Pennie Parker Honored with Women in Sports Leadership Award

ORLANDO, Fla. – Rollins Associate Vice President of Athletics Pennie Parker has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Women in Sports Leadership Award, presented by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. The award is part of the organization's Celebrating Women in Sports series, recognizing women whose dedication, vision, and passion have helped shape the success of the sports industry throughout Greater Orlando.

Parker has been an integral part of Rollins College for more than two decades, helping elevate the Tars into one of the premier NCAA Division II athletic programs while emerging as one of the most respected leaders in collegiate athletics.

Since joining the department in 2002, Parker has guided the Tars through an era of sustained success, highlighted by three NCAA Division II National Championships, numerous Sunshine State Conference championships, and one of the nation's strongest traditions of academic excellence among student-athletes.

Beyond Rollins, Parker has earned national recognition through her service to collegiate athletics. She has held numerous leadership positions within the NCAA and Women Leaders in College Sports and currently serves on the NCAA Strategic Planning and Finance Committee.

Earlier this summer, Parker was appointed President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), becoming the first female outside of Division I to hold the position and only the second non-Division I administrator in the organization's history.

Throughout her career, Parker has received widespread recognition for her contributions to collegiate athletics, including three Under Armour Division II Athletics Director of the Year honors and the 2020 Nike Administrator of the Year award from Women Leaders in College Sports.

The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the Greater Orlando sports community through innovation, service, and leadership. In 2025, the award honored Chrissy Elliott (Florida Citrus Sports), Heather Fagan (City of Orlando), and Sherry Wheelock (Special Olympics Florida).

Parker will be recognized alongside fellow recipients at the 2026 Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Read the full release from the Greater Orlando Sports Commission  here.