The Nashville Sports Council, in collaboration with PNC Bank, presents the continuation of the groundbreaking content series, ‘Through Her Eyes,’ amplifying the voices of women in sports at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Nashville.
The second installment of the series, powered by PNC, shifts the spotlight to Katrina Chambers, the director of Football External Relations for Tennessee State University (TSU). Titled ‘Blazing a Path: Empowering Young Women Through the Hustle and Hard Work,’ Katrina Chambers shares her journey from student-athlete to a pivotal role in the competitive world of college football.
The content series aligns with PNC’s commitment to HBCUs and women in sports across the U.S. In 2022, the Nashville Sports Council and PNC Bank hosted the first-ever Women in Motorsports panel in Nashville.
“HBCUs play an integral role in creating a strong talent pipeline and driving economic competitiveness in our state,” said Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Tennessee. “This initiative reflects our longstanding advocacy for women financial decision makers and our passion for celebrating student athlete success.”
The inaugural feature of the series, released during Women’s History Month in 2023, showcased Corrinne Tarver, Fisk University’s athletics director and gymnastics coach. Tarver, the first Black gymnast to win an all-around NCAA Championship, now leads Fisk’s groundbreaking gymnastics program—the first HBCU program to compete at the NCAA level.
In a groundbreaking event, Fisk University’s Lady Bulldogs (Gymdogs) were set to make history Jan. 15, 2024, by participating in a joint gymnastics match at Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium. The event, cancelled due to inclement weather, was to be the first-ever assembly of the nation’s only African American women head gymnastics coaches for competition, featuring teams from Brown University, Iowa State University, Rutgers University, Talladega College, William & Mary University, and Fisk University coming together under one roof to celebrate African American inclusion in the sport. The meet was to be an official part of Nashville’s Martin Luther King, Jr. week of celebration, underscoring the importance of diversity and unity in sports.
The content series, emphasizing diversity, inclusion and the powerful stories of women, will continue to be hosted on the Nashville Sports Council’s website, <NashvilleSports.com>, throughout the year. Stay engaged with the series and learn more about the Sports Council and PNC Bank’s commitment to women by following their social media handles: @NashvilleSports (Twitter), @nashvillesportscouncil (Facebook and Instagram), and @PNCBank (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
Katherine Chambers’ and Corinne Tarver’s stories can be found on the Nashville Sports website at <www.nashvillesports.com>.
As the journey unfolds, ‘Through Her Eyes’ invites audiences to join the conversation, celebrate achievements, and inspire future generations of women in sports.
