In anticipation of Title IX’s upcoming anniversary, I sat down with Dr. Victoria Jackson, a sports historian and clinical assistant professor of history in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. Jackson is also a former Pac-12 and NCAA champion runner. She writes and speaks about the intersection of sport and society, exploring how the games we play (and watch) tell us much about the communities – local, national and global – in which we live.

As a civic futurist and creator of the AllVoteNoPlay.org civic playbook for student athletes, I wanted to explore the historic significance of Title IX and the implications of this 50-year milestone for the future of women’s athletics. Jackson’s Ph.D. dissertation explores the history and impact of Title IX, and she is actively working on programs and research to make college sports more equitable, more sustainable, and more inclusive.

My running times may be slower than Jackson’s (by a lot), but we share a passion for using the college sports experience as an opportunity to not just grow athletes, but to grow citizens and leaders who contribute positively to society.