As the Hofstra University Department of Athletics celebrates the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, we will honor, acknowledge, and inform our University community about some of the members of the Pride who helped make a difference at Hofstra and paved the way for today's current student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams. Leading up the the June 23 anniversary of the passage of Title IX, Hofstra Athletics will feature many individuals who played a role in enacting change or those whose experiences at Hofstra were enhanced by the efforts of those who came before them.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the United States of America that was passed as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives funding from the federal government. 

Please consider a gift to celebrate and support the 50th anniversary of Title IX! All proceeds from this campaign will go directly towards our Hofstra Athletics Pride Club account for women's athletics. 

Next up in our features is another one of our Title IX pioneers, Dr. Nathalie J. Smith. 

One of Hofstra's Title IX pioneers, Dr. Nathalie J. Smith served as head coach of the field hockey, volleyball and women's lacrosse programs at Hofstra University. Dr. Smith was the first coach of the volleyball club team, which she developed into a varsity program in 1974, and coached for three years. In 1975, she started the women's lacrosse club, which became a varsity sport in 1976, and coached for five years. Dr. Smith coached the field hockey team from 1965 through 1970 and then again in 1973. In addition, Dr. Smith was chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, as well as an associate professor of physical education at the University. 

A 1962 graduate of Tufts University with a degree in physical education, Dr. Smith came to Hofstra in 1965 as an instructor in the Physical Education Department and earned her master's in counselor education from the University in 1968. She left in 1971 to become a teaching assistant at the University of Southern California while she pursued her Ph.D. in physical education/motor learning, which she received in 1975. Returning to Hofstra in 1973 as an assistant professor, she became associate professor in 1980 until retiring in 2000.

Dr. Smith also enjoyed a storied playing career as a member of the United States Women's Lacrosse team, taking part in tours of Great Britain, Ireland and Australia. She was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1986 and the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2006, she was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and Hofstra's annual female athlete of the year award is named in her honor.

Also involved in the administrative end of sports, Dr. Smith served on the US Lacrosse Rules Committee for more than 25 years and was a rated official in lacrosse, volleyball, and field hockey. 

Dr. Smith has won numerous awards, including the 2001 National Association for Girls & Women in Sports New York State Pathfinder Award and the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials New York State Lacrosse Official of the Year Award in 1996.