The Many Faces of CHSAA Leadership – Bethany Brookens

This week, we continue our series of articles highlighting the many faces of leadership throughout the CHSAA membership. Our hope is that by taking a small glimpse into the window of their leadership background, you will gain a greater understand of why they are such strong advocates for the vision and core values of the Colorado High School Activities Association.

I am joined this week by Bethany Brookens, CHSAA’s Associate Commissioner. Bethany is a Davidson College graduate, who also holds an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver. She is in her 16th year at CHSAA, where amongst her other administrative duties, she oversees basketball, skiing, tennis and volleyball.

Let’s start with your time in high school. Many people may not know this, but you are a graduate of Overland High School. What does it mean to have attended Overland High School?
I take great pride in attending and graduating from my home school – Overland High School. There was never a question or discussion on where I would be going to school – I was going where the school bus took me and my twin brother. I had amazing opportunities at Overland, from excellent teachers and educational possibilities to a plethora of athletic offerings where I could become a 3-sport athlete (tennis, volleyball, and basketball).

Can you give us some background on your professional journey?
While I had a brief stint as a PE teacher in Ireland, I came into my current position out of my sheer love of sports and activities. I worked originally at the US Tennis Association in the regional office and oversaw competitive junior tournaments and events in a 6-state region. This experience organizing and managing events and difficult parents led me to my current role, which I feel is my dream job.

Did you participate in a sport or activity during your college years?
While I earned a college scholarship for basketball, I was able to also compete in tennis during my freshman year. I grew up playing three sports and it was difficult to specialize on only one during college. I love the new friends I made and the opportunities I had playing tennis my freshman year. I did only play basketball for the remainder of college but have fond memories. I also had the opportunity to play basketball professionally in Ireland after I graduated from college.

What do you love most about your current position at the Colorado High School Activities Association?
The best part about my current position is the people I get to work with on a daily basis. My coworkers – past and present – are like family to me, and the CHSAA is an incredibly special place to work.

Can you tell us more about your role? What does it mean to be the Associate Commissioner at CHSAA? Specifically, how does your role differ from that of other CHSAA administrators?
The Associate Commissioner at CHSAA means that you are a close teammate and confidant of the Commissioner of CHSAA. If, or when, the Commissioner is unable to fulfill their duties, the Associate would be able to step in and take over the association. Additionally, the Associate is the voice of the Commissioner when the Commissioner is not present. The Associate is still very much part of the CHSAA team of administrators, but they have earned the opportunity to have more authority in certain situations. The Associate and Commissioner must depend on the staff and their team for the operations of the association.

Can you share with us one mistake you may have made early in your career and what you learned from it.
I was running a state swim and dive championship on the Western Slope, and right before the meet started, we found out the pool was not measuring correctly. Never take things or details for granted! Always check, double check, and triple check the details.

What would you consider to be “points of pride” during your time at CHSAA?
In my first several years with CHSAA, I created a music showcase where we highlighted the great talents and accomplishments of the top choirs across our state who attended our CHSAA Music Festivals. We organized the special event so that the choirs could perform at the beautiful Newman Center for Performing Arts (DU) and ultimately at St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Denver. It was an amazing experience for all involved and it felt great to showcase an activity within CHSAA and not always showcase athletic champions.

Another event I am very proud to have been a part of was the “Many Faces of Leadership” Conference last year – our first Women and Leadership event. This was an event that we had been dreaming about and scheming about for many years. Jenn Roberts-Uhlig and I set our minds to it, and just made it happen. We had a phenomenal group of speakers in an exceptional women-owned space, and brought close to 150 people together to share, grow, and celebrate the successes of women. We hope to make this event a yearly one and hope to grow it even further and far-reaching this coming year.

What impact has Title IX had on you personally, and on your profession?
Without Title IX, I would not be where I currently am. The largest realization came at the end of my high school career when my mom shared that she was proud of me for participating in three sports. She had never had the opportunity to participate, and she was so happy I had taken advantage of the opportunities presented to me. Without Title IX, I would not have become a leader – on or off the court – and I could never have dreamed of working in educationally based sports and activities.

What needs to be done to open doors for more women to be in your position?
Women need to see other women in positions of athletic director and principal (admin roles). Our state has over 80% of the athletic directors as male. Why? Women are athletes, and coaches, and leaders. Let’s encourage women to leap into the role of the athletic director and let’s encourage male administrators to give women a chance and allow them to step forward – even if they still need “experience.” Experience comes in the form of many different images – let’s look at the individual as a whole and see what type of leader they are in their current lives – even if they have never been an athletics director before.

What is one bit of advice you would share with young women entering a male-dominated profession like yours?
Speak up. Don’t be afraid to share your comments, feelings, and words of wisdom with anyone you are around.

How do you see yourself impacting the next generation of female leaders?
I hope that when other females see me in my position, they realize that they too can be a leader. Follow your passions and strive to be the best version of yourself.

As someone who has the opportunity to work with Bethany on a daily basis, I don’t know of anyone more committed, passionate, and knowledgeable about our association and the role we play in the experiences of our student participants, coaches, officials, and school administrators.