LOCK HAVEN, PA – West Chester University's very own, Dr. Tammy James, professor in the Department of Health, was among 17 honorees identified by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in its initial class for the L.P. Hill Unity in Sports Award within
The PSAC announced its inaugural class on Mark Luther King, Jr. Day Monday afternoon. The award recognizes the contributions of an individual or group on each member campus that, through intercollegiate athletics, epitomizes the promise of Unity, Equity and Access For All.
The award is named after Leslie Pinckney Hill, the first President of Cheyney State Teacher's College. From 1913 to 1950, he was the Principal of the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia and oversaw its establishment as Cheyney State Teachers College. The Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard-educated son of a former slave taught at Tuskegee Institute and was a renowned educator, writer, poet, and community leader.
In 1927, a year after the first documents that created the Pennsylvania State Normal School Athletic Association, Mr. Hill argued for the inclusion of Cheyney in the Associations bylaws which had been left out in the initial drafting. The Board of Principals immediately rectified this error, and all 14 state-owned institutions were then included in the Association's initial governing documents.
Dr. James will be recognized at halftime of the men's basketball game against Lock Haven on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
With over 25 years of faculty experience at Wet Chester University, Dr. James has been a champion for unity, equity and access for all in the college setting. Currently a professor in the Department of Health, she also serves as the Coordinator of Academic Support Services and most recently the Coordinator of COMPASS, an academic support and retention program that addresses the achievement gap for African American male students at West Chester University. Dr. James has always been extremely passionate about working with college-aged students and is driven by a desire to help students become college graduates.
Dr. James has worked closely with West Chester University's athletics program, developing and implementing its mentor program for student athletes. Her mentorship program has gained national recognition and has been picked up by numerous institutions across the country.
Dr. James has been committed to educating and enabling student-athlete success through her Leadership and Life-Skills course. James expanded this program from a graduate assistant and an intern with 60 athletes to 11 graduate assistants that now support over 120 first and second-year students. The program's evolution is a direct result of her persistence, undying commitment, and dedication to student-athlete success.
The Cleveland, Ohio native is a graduate of Kent State University with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction/School Health. She is a member of the American School Health Association and the Pennsylvania Association for Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. She serves on the local Board of Directors for the Maternal and Child Health Consortium.
She was awarded the Pariser Faculty Mentor Award by the PSAC in 2018, which was created by the Division II Student Athlete Advisory Committy to honor an institutional faculty member who has demonstrated dedication, support, and guidance to student-athletes and the institution's athletics program. The award was posthumously named for the inaugural winner of the award in 2013, Dr. Dave Pariser of Bellarmine University, who passed away January of that year.
Find a complete list of the 2025-26 L.P. Hill Unity in Sports Award recipients below.
Madelyn Rodriguez, Executive Director, Multicultural Center
Bloomsburg
Provides support for underrepresented student-athletes and programming to engage with issues of equity and belonging.
Pete Ware, Campus Ministry
California
Creates environment of access for all campus students, including events around athletics events to help build community on campus.
Brehan Kelly, Head Men's/Women's Swimming Coach
Clarion
Creates an environment within the team to celebrate and support each member and their accomplishments as well as support across breadth of athletic department in creating a community for Golden Eagle Athletes.
Dr. Shawn Munford, Faculty Athletics Representative
East Stroudsburg
Original member of the PSAC Social Justice Alliance and leader in Conference-wide conversations focused on building inclusive and belonging communities.
Fighting Scots Football Team, 12
th Teammate Program
Edinboro
Identifies and supports a seriously ill or disabled individual as the "12th Member" of the Team so they experience and feel included as team member.
Dr. Jinhee Yoo, Professor, Sport Management and Marketing
Gannon
Goes above and beyond her role to provide support, mentorship, and a safe welcoming space for underrepresented students.
Scott & Liz Weigner, Campus Ministry
IUP
Building inter-faith community through collaborative relationships among student-athletes and campus community.
Christine Price, Director, Women's Center
Kutztown
Partnered with Athletic Department to provide education focus on health relationships and organized the "It's On Us" Athletic Playbook.
Kenny Hall, Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee
Lock Haven
A servant leader on campus helping identify and assist student-athletes in need of financial, emotional, and mentoring support.
Molly McLeer, Sprint Football Student-Athlete
Mansfield
First female Sprint Football student-athlete at Mansfield, creating a milestone in equity for athletics programming.
Center for Health Education and Promotion
Millersville
Coordinates intentional learning opportunities within the campus community to improve students' decision making, behaviors, and wellness.
Sherri Rae, Director of Campus and Community Engagement
Pitt-Johnstown
A "Connector" across the entire UPJ campus and Johnstown Community supporting the needs of students by providing resources and environments to promote belonging and unity.
Jasmine Browner, Coordinator, Student Services
Seton Hill
Supports international and multi-cultural students, strengthening belonging for mentoring relationships and meaningful dialogue among teams.
Annie Lewin, Title IX Director
Shepherd
Spearheaded Restorative Justice Week that provides meaningful dialogue across the Campus Community and critical training and education to create a culture of mutual respect.
Miranda Fisher, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine
Shippensburg
Staff advisor of ONESHIP, guiding student-athletes in building an anti-biased and anti-racist athletic community on campus.
Ryenn Micaletti, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Slippery Rock
Model of excellence broadening the definition of "team" by creating space for every voice.
Dr. Tammy James, Professor, Department of Health
West Chester
Coordinator of the campus COMPASS program, designed to support and retain African American Males at WCU.
