The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) honored longtime board member Carol Cartwright with the Irv Grossman Award of Merit as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the CWSA.

The Irv Grossman Award of Merit recognizes unique achievement as it contributes to public awareness and appreciation of women’s collegiate athletics and elevates the status of women’s collegiate sports on a national level. This award is not necessarily an annual award but is given in the years when the most deserving person is identified. This is the first presentation of the Merit Award since 2008.

“I am deeply honored to be selected for the Irv Grossman Award of Merit,” stated Cartwright. “I grew up at a time when girls were not encouraged, and in some cases not allowed, to play sports. Since my early days at Penn State, I've been passionate about ensuring opportunities for women in college athletics.  Throughout my career, it has been a privilege to serve in several capacities on behalf of enhancing opportunities and celebrating the significant successes of women college athletes.”

“President Cartwright is truly a national treasure,” said Voelz. “Her leadership in higher education and intercollegiate athletics, especially at a time when female role models were scarce, is profoundly significant. We have been privileged to benefit from her service and expertise as a CWSA Board member over the past decade, and we are honored to present her with the Irv Grossman Award of Merit in recognition of her influential role in college sports.”

Cartwright served as the first woman president of Kent State University for 15 years, following her roles as vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of California-Davis, and dean and vice provost at Penn State University. After a brief retirement from Kent State, she became the president of Bowling Green State University. She has also held prominent roles in numerous national higher education associations.

In the realm of athletics, Cartwright chaired the Executive Committee and served as a member of the NCAA Board of Directors and Committee on Infractions. She was a prominent voice on the Knight Commission for over 20 years, co-chairing until her retirement in 2023. The Knight Commission, though lacking decision-making authority, significantly influences NCAA policy through its research and recommendations. Under Cartwright’s leadership, the commission advocated for major transformations in college sports, benefiting athletes by pushing for more scholarships, financial aid, and enhanced health and safety measures. Notably, the commission recently called for exploring a new governing entity for FBS-level football, allowing more focus on other sports and proposing a revenue distribution plan based on educational factors.

Cartwright’s 58-year career in higher education is marked by her exemplary contributions and her role as a trailblazing role model for women in academia. Her leadership and advocacy have sparked national conversations about the role of athletics in higher education, fostering progress and clarity.

“Dr. Carol Cartwright is one of the icons of higher education leadership on many levels,” stated Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors.

“Her accomplishments elevating the institutions she served along with her innumerable contributions to the NCAA and the Knight Commission place her among our nation’s most elite leaders. On behalf of the CWSA Board it has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Carol and now to bestow upon her the Irv Grossman Award of Merit.  In addition to her many thoughtful contributions, Carol has paced us through our last two Strategic Plans with a forward-leaning vision that has seen CWSA take the awards program to unprecedented growth in television exposure and financial stability while showcasing the ‘best of the best’ in women’s intercollegiate sports.  We are incredibly grateful for her wisdom, dedication and passion for CWSA and intercollegiate athletics.”

The CWSA, in its 48th year, honors the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.  

About the Irv Grossman Award of Merit

The Award of Merit recognizes unique achievement as it contributes to public awareness and appreciation of women’s collegiate athletics and elevates the status of women’s collegiate sports on a national level. In 2007 the Award of Merit was renamed the Irv Grossman Award of Merit. Irv was a highly respected journalist, sports marketer and media consultant and one of the founders of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program. Throughout his career, he spearheaded many innovative campaigns and events in both collegiate and professional sports, particularly in the field of women’s athletics. Irv passed away in May 2006.