Global Sports Mentoring Program

A Timorese Sports Leader Trains a New Generation

Virginia is master facilitator for SportImpact and executive director of the Sport for Life project in Timor-Leste, leading a nationwide movement of young volunteers from local municipalities, training them in facilitation skills, and coaching them to replicate the project in their communities. She seeks to create a new generation of female sports leaders in Timor-Leste.

Growing up in a traditional Timorese environment, Virginia didn’t have much exposure to sports. While the boys played outside, she was expected to stay inside the home and assist her mother with domestic duties. Whenever she wasn’t looking, she’d sneak out to play in the streets. After finishing secondary school, Virginia took courses in English, Portuguese, computer studies and public management at a local NGO, and soon thereafter founded the Grace Center, where she offers language instruction to children and their parents.

Virginia began working with SportImpact, a business-minded social enterprise that works with national sports entities in development, consulting, training, and event management, where she took over its Sport for Life project. Around the same time, she also founded Zumba Dili, her own initiative to empower women through exercise in 2015. Virginia’s classes have grown to more than 25 women today. Her many achievements led her to be named Timor-Leste’s representative at the 9th UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris, as well as an Asian youth representative for the UNESCO General Conference 38th session.

In a country where female voices and expression still encounter suppression, Virginia is committed to providing a safe space for women to connect, learn, and develop leadership skills that will create a culture shift toward gender equality. By participating in the GSMP, she has learned vital sports marketing and networking skills, as well as how to engage with stakeholders to sustain and expand her projects.

Virginia is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in economics from Joao Saldanha University. In her free time, she enjoys nature, Zumba, and spending time with her family.

Amy Wilson, Indianapolis, IN

Director of Inclusion, NCAA

Amy Wilson has worked in higher education for her entire career. In her role as director of inclusion for the NCAA, she focuses on issues surrounding Title IX, gender equity, LGBTQ topics and emerging sports for women. Prior to this position, she was an associate professor of education at Illinois College. Amy has worked closely with nationally-recognized Title IX expert Christine Grant on equity issues in intercollegiate athletics, and has given numerous presentations on Title IX and gender equity around the United States. For Title IX’s 40th anniversary, she completed a report for the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics—“The Status of Women in Intercollegiate Athletics as Title IX Turns 40. Amy has bachelor’s and master’s degree in English and earned a Ph.D. in health and sport studies with a concentration in athletic administration from the University of Iowa.

Jean Merrill, Indianapolis, IN

Director of Inclusion, NCAA

Jean Merrill joined the NCAA office of inclusion in January 2018 after almost a decade in academic and membership affairs. In her role as director, Merrill collaborates with and supports member institutions and national office staff in diversity and inclusion initiatives, particularly in the areas of international student-athletes, LGBTQ, gender equity and women. Merrill holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish from Hanover College, where she was a softball student-athlete. She also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the same program. Merrill’s research focuses on professionally disclosed lesbian, gay, and bisexual college coaches.

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A Timorese Sports Leader Trains a New Generation

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