The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is pleased to present the keynote speakers for the 2021 Virtual Coaches’ Caucus (VCC), Victoria Farris and Jen Fry.
Victoria and Jen will present “Leading with an Anti-Racist Lens” to attendees of the VCC.
The pair has shared a digital stage for conversations centered around anti-racism, leadership, and allyship — each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to athletics- and education-focused presentations on race.
Victoria Farris
Victoria is a native New Yorker on a mission to encourage a more inclusive world. She is a disrupter, a truth teller, a justice seeker, an educator, a mother, and an activist. Her research focuses on understanding, from the perspectives of folks of color, what white people can do to disrupt and dismantle systemic racism, and Victoria has developed a framework for effective allyship that outlines an action-based guide for disrupting racism. Victoria is a dedicated higher education leader with more than 12 years of progressive experience serving students at traditional and specialized arts institutions.
A skilled problem solver with a knack for working strategically across teams to drive change and enhance the student experience, she launched Farris Consulting in 2017 with the goal of supporting higher education through equity and inclusion consulting, training, and coaching. Prior to launching her consulting business, Victoria served as an associate dean of students and dean for residence life. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marist College, a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Jen Fry
Jen Fry runs JenFryTalks, LLC, which is a social justice education firm that uses conversation to educate and empower those within athletics through an anti-racist lens on issues of race, inclusion, intersectionality, diversity, and equity. They facilitate dialogue with small and large groups, athletic departments, athletic teams, staff, administrations, schools, affinity groups, identity groups, and much more. They use their anti-racist lens to advise on best practices that will create equitable searches, hiring, onboarding practices, methods of retaining staff, retaining student-athletes, supporting student-athletes, staff and coaches, and community building.
Jen Fry is a veteran coach with over 15 years of experience at the collegiate level with coaching stints at Elon University, University of Illinois (2011 NCAA Volleyball National Championship Runner-Up), Washington State University, and Norfolk State University. She has spoken, consulted, or facilitated sessions and workshops with Harvard University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, UCLA, Syracuse University, Colgate University, Dartmouth College, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, Northwestern University, the University of South Florida, NCAA, NCAA Inclusion Forum, American Volleyball Coaches Association, Gilman School, Lonestar Conference, Black Student-Athlete Summit, Women Leaders in College Sports, Western Michigan University, East Carolina University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, American University, Grinnell College, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, and more. Jen completed her first TedxDuke talk titled “Radical Social Justice Education Through High Fives.”
She is currently working on her Ph.D. in geography at Michigan State University. Go Green.
2021 Virtual Coaches’ Caucus
The Virtual Coaches’ Caucus (VCC) is slated to be a dynamic, online gathering of NFHCA members and field hockey coaches. The VCC will incorporate NFHCA business meetings, educational sessions, a variety of speakers, awards ceremonies, and opportunities for attendees to connect with their field hockey colleagues.
The VCC will take place between January 5 — 10, 2021, with professional development components mainly taking place on January 9 and 10. Registration will open in September.