The idea for the Walk for Women event was initially developed by Cindy Gannon as a way to recognize the accomplishments of our female student-athletes, while helping to raise money to support athletic scholarships.
Since its inception, Cindy has helped guide this event, which has raised more than $500,000 for athletic scholarships. At last year’s walk, Director of Athletics Brady Barke announced that in appreciation for the decade long commitment to the Walk for Women event and her efforts to champion women’s athletics, the event would be renamed in her honor and moving forward would be known as the Cindy Gannon Walk for Women.
Cindy, a two-time graduate of Southeast, has been a part of the Southeast Missouri athletics staff since 1988, transitioning from a successful coaching career to Southeast’s Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator.
Prior to joining the administration, Cindy coached the Redhawks’ volleyball program for 16 seasons, winning a program-record 366 matches and eight Ohio Valley Conference titles. One of the highlights of her career, she says, was defeating the University of North Carolina in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Volleyball tournament.
Cindy moved to Southeast’s administration in 2005, and currently she serves as the sport administrator for several programs. She also oversees event management and sports information and is responsible for the athletic department’s equity and diversity programs and departmental policies and procedures. She also served two stints as the Redhawks interim athletic director.
Cindy plans to retire at the end of this school year, but her outstanding legacy will live on through the Walk for Women.
The 11th Annual Cindy Gannon Walk for Women will be held Saturday, April 7 at Houck Field House, to raise money benefitting student-athlete scholarships. Learn more online at walkforwomen.semo.edu.
