Recently, the Tennessee Tech Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted the Fall 2024 session of its Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life series. Established in 2006, Dr. Murphy, a former TTU student-athlete and member of the inaugural women's basketball, volleyball and tennis teams, wanted to provide female student-athletes at Tennessee Tech with every opportunity and resource to be successful both on and off the playing field.
This fall's speaker was Barb Jordan of the Always Bev organization. Its mission is to educate and empower individuals with skills for personal safety to prevent and defend against sexual assault, predatory behavior and violence.
"We can't eliminate predatory behavior," explained Jordan, "but we can greatly reduce their opportunities."
Jordan, a former all-American and national champion softball player as well as a longtime advocate for women's empowerment, created Always Bev in honor of her late sister, Beverly, to promote personal safety and awareness, particularly for women. Jordan's experiences, both as an elite athlete and as someone who turned personal tragedy into a mission for change, deeply resonated with the student-athletes.
"TTU's Department of Athletics is home to more than 150 female student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. "As a father to five daughters, I take the safety of our students personally and welcomed this opportunity to provide them with this life-changing information. Barb's presence here is a reminder of the strength and leadership our student-athletes are capable of, and we're grateful for the opportunity to connect them with such powerful role models."
You can learn more about Always Bev at awlaysbev.com.
