Culver-Stockton College will present the Women in Sports Speaker Series Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center. The event will feature inspiring conversations with two accomplished professionals in athletics: Jennifer Durst ‘96, area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Tori Niemann, assistant athletic director at Clemson University.
The event will be introduced by Lexi Tekell, president of Women of Promise, who will welcome attendees and introduce the speakers.
Durst, a 1996 graduate of Culver-Stockton College and former dual-sport athlete in softball and basketball, currently serves as the Northeast Missouri area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is also the junior varsity and assistant varsity coach at Quincy Notre Dame High School in Quincy, IL. With over 25 years of experience in teaching and coaching, Durst has built lasting relationships with athletes and coaches across the Tri-State region and beyond.
Niemann — a Canton, MO, native and a Western Illinois University graduate and former collegiate basketball standout — currently leads student-athlete development at Clemson University. She oversees leadership and personal growth initiatives for athletes, manages community engagement efforts, and serves as the secondary sport administrator for Clemson Men’s Basketball. Niemann is the founder of the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy, the only program of its kind in the country, and has raised nearly $3 million to support student-athlete development programs.
The evening is free and open to the public and will include remarks from each speaker, followed by an audience Q&A session:
- 7 p.m. — Welcome and introductions by Lexi Tekell
- 7:05–7:20 p.m. — Jennifer Durst: Reflections on her high school sports career and her current work with FCA
- 7:20–7:45 p.m. — Tori Niemann: Insights on her career in collegiate athletics and the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy (NOTE: Tori will be sharing her story via video conferencing).
- 7:45–8 p.m. — Q&A with attendees
- 8 p.m. — Closing remarks by Lexi Tekell
For more information, contact C-SC Marketing & Public Relations at pr@culver.edu.
About Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill overlooking the Mississippi River, was founded in 1853 by members of the Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 21 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse student organizations, and many campus-life events.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.