O'Connor, Walker have paved a long path for Title IX progress

The CCCAA has a rich history of women’s athletics. From trailblazers to Olympians, the association has produced a staggering number of individuals who have made their mark on women’s sports locally, nationally, and internationally. For the month of December, we highlight both Kathy O’Connor, and Pamela (Pam) Walker for their notable achievements in championing Title IX.

The CCCAA invites members to continue to nominate staff, coaches, and administrators for recognition as we celebrate their efforts related to gender equity through May of 2023.

Kathy O’Connor, Department Chair, Health, PE, Athletics & Dance
O’Connor started the women’s sports programs at Santa Barbara City College in 1974. Forty-five eager women student-athletes showed up for the first tryout session. Most of them had never played but it demonstrated the desire for the opportunity. 

Fast forward to today and SBCC now offers 11 intercollegiate athletic programs for women and without Kathy O’Connor’s leadership and vision this would not have been possible.

O'Connor's personal journey in sports and competition was integral to her growth, “I decided to become a PE teacher when I was in the ninth grade, and it was because I loved sports and I had great role models in my PE teachers. At UCSB there were many women faculty who empowered us all to pursue our dreams, not only as teachers but to fight for girls and women in sports. On a more personal level, it helped me develop perseverance and self-esteem.” 

Following graduate school at UCSB O'Connor was offered a sabbatical leave replacement position in 1973 at SBCC. At the time, SBCC did not offer intercollegiate sports, “So the department chair asked me If I would be interested in starting the program. As they say, ignorance is bliss, but I was young and excited about the passage of Title IX and the potential for women to finally be included. With the support of our department chair and the three full-time women faculty members in our department, I moved forward. There was opposition as there were concerns about money and facility usage, but we persevered.”

O'Connor is a firm believer in the benefits of Title IX and the societal changes it ushered in, “Without Title IX we would still be struggling to have any parity at all. Gender inequity still exists. These issues have not disappeared, and you know that is the case based on conversations I have with both women and men who are supporters of women in sports. We also continue to see this at the national and international level. Equity is still needed in many areas of our society including sports.”

Pamela Walker, CCCCO, COA, American River College & Cerritos College (retd.)
Dr. Pamela Walker started off early advocating for the creation of girls sports at her high school in Oregon.“I was promised by the boys’ coaches that they would start a girls’ team if a could get 10 other girls to come out, and that they would buy one girl’s discus if I threw the boys discus a certain distance. I did both and we had a very successful track team during my junior and senior years.”

In college Pamela competed all four years at Eastern Oregon in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. “I was inducted into the EOU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 as the first female student-athlete.”

Dr. Walker moved into coaching and intercollegiate administration with stops at Sacramento State, and the University of Redlands before becoming Associate Commissioner for the Commission on Athletics (COA), now the CCCAA. She returned to campus spending time at Cerritos College and American River College before transitioning to the California Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) in Sacramento. 

The passage of Title IX began during her coaching career. “I felt so relieved that there was this ‘extra’ support to try to do more for our female student-athletes. Instead of begging for knee pads or asking for a bus to transport student-athletes, or overloading an old van or receiving access to the gym after every boys team had used it for the day, administrators began treating girls athletics more equitably.”

When asked what she would like changed in women’s athletics Dr. Walker had this to share “I would like to see more women, if they find the passion, to be involved in coaching, teaching, and administration of athletics. While there are so many very good male colleagues involved in women’s athletics, it would be so important for women athletes to have mentors who may have faced some of the same experiences. I would also like to see mentoring for women of color to take leadership roles in women’s athletics. In retirement, it has become my passion, and I take great pleasure mentoring first generation women leaders and women of color in an effort to see themselves in the opportunities that sport gave me.”

Dr. Pamela Walker made a big impact at every professional stop along the way and continues to do so by sharing her expertise with future women leaders.