ESPN’s Rowe visits OSU for the Patti and Ken Moyes Speaker Series
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu
From the Gallagher-Iba Arena courtside to the Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting building classroom, ESPN sports telecaster Holly Rowe maintained her on-screen demeanor as she visited students and left a lasting impact on their careers.
Students, faculty and staff of Oklahoma State University’s School of Media and Strategic Communications gathered in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center on Nov. 20 for the Patti and Ken Moyes Speaker Series.
Each semester, the SMSC invites an industry professional to campus to interact with students in their multimedia journalism, strategic communication and sports media majors. Students can eat meals with speakers and learn first hand about their dream careers. This event is made possible by a sponsorship from Ken and his late wife, Patti Moyes.
This semester, Rowe spoke to students about building a career in sports journalism.
Rowe is touted as one of the best sports media reporters. For her work, she earned a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 alongside names like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol.
Association of Women in Sports Media Club members were able to sit down with Rowe at Hideaway Pizza and talk one-on-one with her about their ambitions and career goals.
Tessa Dorrell, a senior and AWSM Club member, had the opportunity to sit down with Rowe and ask questions about how she can best serve and elevate women’s sports in her career.
“Holly has always been my hero. Many people in the school know, Holly Rowe is my Michael Jordan. The way she works and the knowledge she has is what created how I imagine working in the sports world,” Dorrell said. “Knowing what she has overcome in her life also draws me to her. I had an uncle who was diagnosed with cancer, and he was a huge sports fan. It makes my heart happy to know that she was someone he looked up to as well. She is the best depiction of strength in the sports world.”
A stage four cancer survivor, Rowe’s main message to students is always about finding the career that inspires them.
“Identify what you're passionate about. I promise you, I've never worked a day in my life,” Rowe said. “I'm one of those people who say, ‘Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.’ So, identify what you truly love.”
From covering over 17 NCAA Division I women’s basketball national championships to over 20 years working with NCAA softball, Rowe has always advocated for women’s sports. She was recently part of the first college softball game to air on ABC, a major milestone in women’s sports.
After years of what feels like “shouting from the mountain tops” about how great women’s sports are, Rowe has seen the narrative shift around women in sports and spoke directly to the female students in attendance for her talk.
“I want all of you women who are here to stop worrying about your gender. Yes, there will be related issues to your gender,” Rowe said. “Just be good at your job. Just be the smartest person in the room. Just be better than everybody else. Work harder. You can do that and not let your gender inform your opportunities.”
Rowe encouraged students to work hard and keep their heads high when roadblocks interfered in their careers. She spoke in detail about how she believed her passion for her job saved her life during her battle with cancer.
“It's really easy to have excuses and not show up, but I have learned that every time I show up, when I could have called in sick or made an excuse, I am rewarded,” Rowe said. “You will hit bumps in the road, but find out what you love doing and keep doing it, and don't let anybody stop you from doing what you love.”