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28 CAVALIER CORNER BY JEFF WHITE F ifty years have passed since the first class of undergraduate women enrolled at the Univer- sity of Virginia, a half-century during which the institution has changed significantly. Today, women make up more than half of the undergraduate student body at UVA, which fields varsity teams in 14 women's sports. Overseeing those teams, as well as 13 on the men's side, is Carla Williams, a pioneer in her profession. When UVA hired Wil- liams in the fall of 2017, she became the first African-American woman to be named director of athletics at a Power Five school. Other women took notice. During Wil- liams' tenure as AD, major donations from women to UVA athletics have increased. Historically, this group has not had a high profile in fundraising for athletics at the University, but that's changing. "As women, we are so excited to see other women in leadership roles or excelling in non-traditional positions," Williams said. "It is like an automatic sisterhood that we rec- ognize with a smile or a nod. I can feel the pride and, quite frankly, I can sense the hope that we have for our daughters, little girls and young women in any endeavor they choose." Much of Williams' attention over the last nine months has been on leading the athlet- ics department through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the crisis, fundraising for the Master Plan, the project that will transform UVA athletics' North Grounds precinct, was the focus. Major gifts to the Master Plan and other initiatives have come from such women as Molly Hardie, Lisa Palmer, Amy Griffin, Vivi Weiler, Jane-Ashley Skinner, Roxanne Booth and Cindy Brinker Simmons. "We need everyone's support for this transformational project," Williams said. "The Master Plan benefits every single sport, and every sport deserves the benefits these facilities, services and programs bring. "Our goal is to provide the best student- athlete experience in the country. We are helping to prepare young people to thrive in life beyond athletics." Hardie, who lives in Charlottesville, is a 2000 graduate of UVA's School of Medi- cine. Last fall, she and her husband, Robert, who has three degrees from UVA, pledged $6 million to the Master Plan and $1 mil- lion to the University's new student health facility. "Carla is literally one of the most im- pressive people that I've ever met, male or female, and just being able to hear her vision and talk with her and get to know her as a person made me feel inspired — first of all as a woman," Hardie said. "I think women really need to support other women, especially in leadership positions like this." To be sure, UVA athletics received major gifts from women before Williams' arrival in Charlottesville, including Palmer and Griffin. Both have since formed strong rela- tionships with Williams, a former basketball player at the University of Georgia who has worked in athletics administration at Geor- gia, Florida State and Vanderbilt. Williams, who has a Ph.D. from Florida State, is also a former assistant women's basketball coach at Georgia. "The fact that the University hired Carla is a big statement," said Palmer, a former softball star at UVA. "I think what people heard, especially women athletes, is, 'Wow, we are recognized.' "And as a result you have more trust in the University as a whole and therefore in MAKING MAKING AN IMPACT AN IMPACT Inspired By Director Of Athletics Carla Williams' Vision, More Women Are Supporting Her Master Plan For The Program Lisa Palmer (second from left), a former softball star at UVA and a current donor, said the hiring of Williams (far left) was a "big statement" that built trust and thus a willingness to invest in athletics. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA YEARS OF WOMEN AT UVA