NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Smith College Associate Athletics Director Jessica Duff has been named the recipient of the 2021 NCAA Division III LGBTQ Administrator-Staff-Coach of the Year Award. Duff accepted the award virtually Friday evening during the NCAA Convention held in Indianapolis, IN.

The award honors the service, leadership and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach or staff member.

Duff, a former Division III student-athlete and coach and now associate athletics director at Smith, serves as a Division III OneTeam program facilitator, conducting trainings at Division III schools. She also has been a member of the Common Ground leadership team.

"For me seeing others — be it athletic administration, my coaches, my teammates — live openly and authentically was really transformative in my coming-out process," Duff said. "If I can be that person for someone who might be struggling, I consider that a success."

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.