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BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott women's tennis student-athlete and sport management major Alexandra Barmore (Southington, Conn.) has been selected to attend the National Football League (NFL) Women's Career in Football Forum next month. The event, which will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26-27, includes panel discussions, presentations, and breakout sessions to educate, inspire, and connect qualified female candidates with positions in football at the high school, college, and professional level.

Participants for the NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum are chosen based on their application, relatable and/or proven experience and clarity of career goals. Barmore will be one of 40 participants, selected out of hundreds of applications, to attend the forum next month.

"I was extremely honored to find out that I would be able to attend this year's NFL Women's Forum," said Barmore. "This opportunity can truly be considered once-in-a-lifetime, and I am excited to be surrounded by 39 other women who share my passion for football and have a desire to take the game to the next level."

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES PAVE ROAD TO THE FORUM

When she first came to Endicott, Barmore envisioned a career in sports marketing for herself that looped football into the equation. However, what she found out was the exact opposite.

"My first internship at Central Connecticut State University in their marketing department was just as pivotal as the rest, even though it did not involve working with football," said Barmore. "This internship helped me discover that what I originally thought I wanted to do when entering college was nothing that I actually wanted to do. I came to Endicott thinking that I wanted to work in sport marketing and I left the internship realizing that that wasn't the path for me."

Barmore's new career perspective eventually led to internships with Boston College Football (football operations/gameday recruiting), Southington High School Athletics, and Yale University Football (football operations).

Over the course of those three internships, Barmore created the team captain leadership program at Southington, completed on-field testing and worked with the student-athlete database system at Boston College, and assisted on all unofficial visits at Yale, among many other tasks. She also created a presentation for the Ivy League that encompassed facilities, away game hotel planning and preseason meal planning.

"All of my internships have led me to where I am now and the career path I am focused on. I consider myself lucky, as I knew at an early stage in my life that I was passionate about football, and had a strong desire to work in the industry," said Barmore. "Coming to Endicott, I knew I wanted to work in football, but my internships narrowed down the section of football that I am truly passionate about. The internship program at Endicott College is second to none, providing opportunities for students to not only connect with professionals in their industry, but also provide opportunities for students to discover their true passions."

ENDICOTT FOOTBALL FAMILY

Along with her internship experiences, Barmore has spent the last year (Jan. 2018-present) working as a football operations assistant with the Endicott football program.

She's excelled in that role too, much like her internships, despite having to balance her time as a women's tennis student-athlete on a championship caliber team, keep her cumulative grade point average at 3.93, and write her undergraduate thesis on the topic: "The Impact of Sport Affordability on Consumers' Use of Discretionary Income to Purchase NFL Game Day Tickets."

Her success in all areas doesn't come as a surprise to Endicott football head coach Paul McGonagle, though.

"As a father of three daughters, who are always around our program, it was wonderful for them to see Alex be selected to the forum because of how hard Alex works and the professionalism she brings into her position with our program day in and day out," said McGonagle. "Alex has been a great addition to our staff. She comes from a football family and it shows with her strong work ethic. Seeing Alex selected to the NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum is very important not only to her career, but also to every woman who wants to pursue a career in the football profession."

Barmore's duties with Endicott are very similar to everything she has done in internships. Barmore has organized recruiting initiatives for the program, coordinated the team banquet, managed practice and film sessions, assisted with game day and practice field set-up/break down, coordinated game day operations, and utilized Front Rush, the team's recruiting database application.

"Having the opportunity to work with the Endicott football team has helped solidify my career goals in a number of ways. To start, there are days where I simply go in the football office to hang out with the coaches, which could mean watching film, listening to meetings, practice planning, and more," explained Barmore. "Simply sitting in the room and observing daily tasks of a football office helped me realize that I could envision myself doing similar tasks in the future. Additionally, an aspect of college football that I enjoy is the opportunity to work directly with the players and be on the field during games/practices, something this football staff allowed me to do."

Barmore continued.

"The staff has taken me in as one of their own and has truly accepted me into their football family. They truly embody the family atmosphere of football, and it's been fun being a part of all the behind the scenes," said Barmore. "They have allowed me to take on a broader range of responsibilities to help build my skill set, as well as consistently giving me insight into the world of football."

GETTING INTO THE END ZONE

The goal of the NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum is to provide insights into the different ways participants can get involved in and around the game of football, at all levels.

Per the NFL: The forum is not a career fair, nor is it a guarantee of a job. It's an educational opportunity to learn about the broad range of opportunities available to each participant and gain experience and insight from NFL executives and football experts.

It's fair to say that Barmore's experiences up until this point have followed the same tenor. Nothing is guaranteed for the senior from Southington, Connecticut upon graduation but the knowledge gained over the last three-plus years at Endicott, and also at other institutions, will set her up for success working in sports.

"Upon graduating from Endicott, my initial goal is to get a job with a Division I football program, preferably on the East Coast, allowing me to experience 'big-time' college football," said Barmore. "Within football, I aspire to associate myself with high-level personnel within my organization, in addition to working in football operations. After gaining experience in collegiate football and allowing myself to build my skill set, my goal is to join an NFL organization."

Meanwhile, the end goal for Barmore is clear cut, too.

"Ultimately, my end career goal is to become an athletic director after a long career in football. I enjoy working directly with athletes, and believe that the athletic director position provides a unique opportunity for one individual to positively impact such a large group of young athletes," explained Barmore. "Prior to this goal, my goals focus on working up the corporate ladder within a football, or multiple, football organizations."

THE ENDICOTT INTERNSHIP MODEL

Endicott College is a pioneer in requiring comprehensive internship experiences in every program of study for undergraduate students. A philosophy of "learning by doing" permeates the college curriculum in which students are encouraged to integrate theory and practice in all of their studies.

Through their experiences in internships students will be prepared to:

• Apply, integrate, and evaluate knowledge within a particular academic discipline
• Develop competencies for careers and community service
• Explore career options and gain field experience
• Foster personal growth through increased self-confidence, interpersonal skills, an understanding of self and others, and a heightened awareness of ethical standards
• Improve the ability to learn in a self-directed manner

"The Endicott internship model allows students to have multiple opportunities throughout their college experience to discover their passions, bolster career confidence, and develop a marketable skill set while creating a professional network that will serve them well after graduation," said Endicott's Dean of the Internship and Career Center Eric Hall. "Endicott students leave with the career-readiness competencies and passion needed to excel in today's workforce." 

ENDICOTT SPORT MANAGEMENT MAJOR

The sport management program at Endicott provides students with academic knowledge and practical experiences that foster an understanding of and appreciation for the sport industry. The sport management program promises an academically rigorous experience within a student-centered learning environment that promotes professionalism, collegiality, and scholarship.

As with all Endicott programs, internships are a critical part of our curriculum, and they frequently lead directly to employment upon graduation. In sport management, internship opportunities typically include professional sport teams, intercollegiate athletics, sport marketing firms, amateur sports organizations, resorts, and health and fitness clubs.

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)