Reyna Gilbert-Lowry wants to ensure women are making the vital decisions not only in athletics, but in every industry. At Virginia Tech, part of her job is to help Virginia Tech female student-athletes to be those women in the future.
"Athletics is a male-dominated field, so sometimes I look around the room and I might be the only woman in there," Gilbert-Lowry said. "It's not new to me to feel this way, not only as a woman but as an African American. So now I take more responsibility to make sure to get other women in the room in the future."
Gilbert-Lowry currently serves as the Senior Associate Athletic-Director, Student-Athlete Development as well as Senior Woman Administrator. She's been working with Virginia Tech student-athletes since 2008 when she originally came to Blacksburg as the Assistant Athletics Director for Student Life. Committed to the bettering of the student-athlete experience, Gilbert-Lowry serves on the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Education Committee as well as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In addition to her responsibilities as Senior Associate AD, Gilbert-Lowry also works as the sport supervisor for Virginia Tech Women's Soccer and both men's and women's tennis.
"We really try to focus on making our student-athletes, men and women, as well rounded as possible and enhance their experience outside of competition and academics."
Before coming onto campus in Blacksburg, Gilbert-Lowry got her start in athletics at a young age. She spent her upbringing in Orlando, Fl. beginning a promising amateur career in gymnastics before receiving a scholarship to Northern Illinois University. Her time as an athlete led her to pursue a career in student-athlete development with stops at UCF and Nova Southeastern University. All of these experiences were perfect preparation for a life of leadership in Blacksburg.
"I've never really been that vocal. It's not my personality," said Gilbert-Lowry. "I'm a huge cheerleader and a huge supporter. I've never been a strict leader, I'm more the one to lead by example and encourage folks along the way."
One of the main efforts Gilbert-Lowry continues to back is the increased national exposure of women's collegiate athletics. As the Senior Women's Administrator, she works collectively with her counterparts across the ACC to ensure the most television broadcasts possible for women's athletics.
"Female student-athletes face a bigger challenge than men as far as recognition or exposure," said Gilbert-Lowry. "With the ACC Network, we've definitely seen an increase in the exposure of women's athletics and also a commitment at the conference level to make sure we are doing our best to promote women's sports."
When looking at the future, Gilbert-Lowry optimistically envisions the future of women in athletics while reflecting on her past experiences. She positively dwelled on the major jump start her scholarship gave to her nearly two-decade career in student-athlete development.
"The impact of people who support our female student-athletes goes such a long way. I was fortunate enough to get a full-scholarship to go to college and compete. Because of those people who impacted me, that's why I have my job. I thought 'How can I impact people the way they impacted me?' So to be able to provide someone with an opportunity to compete in their sport at an institution like Virginia Tech opens so many doors, personally and professionally. It's long lasting."
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