KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island women's rower
Jennae Alexander is one of 14 finalists from the Atlantic 10 for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award, the league announced Thursday afternoon.
From a list of 13 of the women, two will be chosen by the league's Senior Woman Administrators to represent the Atlantic 10 as 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year conference finalists. One of the 14 nominees, Deja Chambliss, competes in gymnastics, a sport not sponsored by the Atlantic 10. Though she is not eligible for the conference finalist, her nomination will be considered by the NCAA separate from the conference finalists.
Nationally, Alexander is one of 248 Division I student-athletes selected as a finalist for the honor.
The first woman in Rhode Island history to win four Atlantic 10 team titles in rowing, Alexander was a key piece in the lineup throughout her career. She was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection, as well as an Academic All-Conference honoree.
Alexander completed both her bachelor's degree and master's degree in Accounting, all while earning a 3.76 cumulative grade point average. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a Dean's List student every possible semester. In addition to her course load, Alexander interned with Sansiveri, Kimball & Co. in Providence, RI for two years, as well as one year with PxC Start. She also was a tutor with the URI Athletics Academic Advising office. Her work with PricewaterhouseCoopers – an 40-plus-hours-per-week internship – led to a full-time job offer in Boston for Alexander beginning in the fall.
The 14 institutional nominees from the Atlantic 10 have been recognized for their exceptional academic prowess and notable athletic success as well as their leadership and service to their community. The candidates have noteworthy credentials, including serving as student-athlete leaders, as well as garnering national and A-10 academic honors, and All-Conference awards, and postseason championship participation. A complete list of the nominees, their sport, hometown and academic studies are included below. A full profile of each candidate will be shared on Atlantic10.com beginning Friday, July 15.
One of the most prestigious NCAA awards, the NCAA established the Woman of the Year Award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 32nd year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
Per the NCAA, all conference-level nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the three finalists in each division. Finally, the members of the Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine finalists to determine the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 30 honorees will be honored, and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced this fall.
Here are the league's 14 nominees:
Siena Senn, Davidson
- Sport: Swimming & Diving
- Hometown: Park City, Utah
- Major: Public Health
- Minor: Hispanic Studies
Maura Collins, Dayton
- Sport: Volleyball
- Hometown: Independence, Ohio
- Major: Applied Mathematical Economics
- Minors: Actuarial Science, Finance
Hanna Everhart, Duquesne
- Sport: Swimming & Diving
- Hometown: Bloomsberg, Pa.
- Major: Physician Assistant Studies
- Masters: Physician Assistant Studies
Jessica McRae, George Mason
- Sport: Track & Field
- Hometown: Glen Allen, Va.
- Major: Nursing
Sierra Lange, George Washington
- Sport: Softball
- Hometown: Plano, Texas
- Major: Management
- Minor: Organizational Science, Psychology
- Masters: Management
Deja Chambliss, George Washington*
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Hometown: Chesterfield, Va.
- Major: Exercise Science
Elizabeth Mancini, La Salle
- Sport: Track & Field/Cross Country
- Hometown: Media, Pa.
- Major: Nursing
Kira Kopec, Massachusetts
- Sport: Track & Field
- Hometown: Brooks, Alberta, Canada
- Major: Microbiology
- Minor: Psychology
Jennae Alexander, Rhode Island
- Sport: Rowing
- Hometown: Suwanee, Ga.
- Major: Accounting
- Masters: Science in Accounting
Rachel Helbling, Richmond
- Sport: Track & Field/Cross Country
- Hometown: McDonald, Pa.
- Major: Biochemistry & Molecular
Lauren Figura, Saint Joseph's
- Sport: Lacrosse
- Hometown: Mount Laurel, N.J.
- Major: Health Services
- Minor: Healthcare Ethics
Brianna Halverson, Saint Louis
- Sport: Soccer
- Hometown: Boliva, Mo.
- Major: Public Health
- Minor: Healthcare Ethics
Paola Exposito Diaz Delgado, VCU
- Sport: Tennis
- Hometown: Almeria, Spain
- Major: Social Work
- Minor: Psychology
Makayla McGowan, VCU
- Sport: Track & Field
- Hometown: Bristow, Va.
- Major: Fashion Merchandising
- Minor: Business
