Oak Knoll School hosted its 5th annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel on Thursday, April 22, 2023, welcoming students, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae/i, and friends to the Tisdall Hall gymnasium. The evening celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education and sports.

Moderated by Oak Knoll alum, panelist, and BIG EAST reporter Meghan Caffrey ’11, the panel featured Oak Knoll alumnae who have made significant strides in their respective fields, including health care, diversity and inclusion, finance, banking, collegiate athletics, and journalism. Each panelist shared her unique experiences and perspectives on women’s challenges and opportunities in sports and how Oak Knoll uniquely prepared them for college and beyond.

Panelists included:

1. Gabby Andretta ’17 — Princeton Field Hockey
2. Meghan Brodbeck ’99 — H Partners Management LLC, Controller & Investor Relations
3. Meghan Caffrey ’11 — BIG EAST, Reporter
4. Katherine Caufield ’08 — FOX Corporation, Ad Sales
5. Kiwi Comizio ’14 — Firmament Group, Private Credit Team
6. Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05 — Neurosurgical Nurse Practitioner and Oak Knoll’s 2023 Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee!
7. Emily Dolan ’17 — FSO Assurance Staff at EY
8. Kristen Ehinger ’04 — Empirical Research Partners and KEE Concept and Design
9. Ana Duarte McCarthy ’77 — Forte Foundation, Director, Corporate Partners,
10. Elizabeth Persichetty Molins ’85 — University of Chicago, Harvard, and Fidelity Investments

While panelists shared their own stories of perseverance and determination — highlighting the critical role that sports have played in shaping their lives and careers — they touched on time management, mental health, lifelong bonds, and life and identity after sports.

Oak Knoll senior and Athletic Council President Madeline Sepe ’23 even read a reflection on her experience as an Oak Knoll Royal and how that has influenced the person she has become today.

“As many of you know, putting on an Oak Knoll Jersey is a feeling like no other,” Sepe said. “The rush of pride and passion overcomes you; you look down and realize that across your chest is the name that represents decades of powerful women that have come before you. It’s difficult to put into words how much of an impact athletics can have on a person, specifically Oak Knoll Athletics.

“I’m proud to say that I am leaving Oak Knoll with lessons I have learned that will benefit me in the future. For example, I’ve learned how to work hard. Early on in my athletic career, I discovered that if I wanted something, I had to work for it. In an atmosphere like Oak Knoll, there are no shortcuts to success; it is earned, not given. Athletics has also taught me how to be a leader. Sports have given me the opportunity to work with different people and communicate effectively to achieve a common goal. Third,  I learned the importance of putting the needs of the team and others above mine. I believe true success happens when a whole team is willing to put their wants and needs behind them and focus on lifting up others to achieve a common goal. This quality is one of the special things about Oak Knoll. Knowing you have a whole team of girls behind you and supporting you no matter what is a great feeling and something that Oak Knoll has allowed me to experience.”

At Oak Knoll, we believe each person is created by God for an intended purpose. Students may find that purpose in the classroom, on stage, in the chemistry lab, or even on the ball field. The annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel, which continually features impressive Oak Knoll alumnae who are out in the world making a difference in their careers and lives, is a testament to the remarkable educational program at Oak Knoll and our Athletic Department’s ongoing commitment to teaching life lessons through sports.