Each month, a UMW Athletics Faculty Liaison will be featured in the Ultimate Subaru Spotlight. The faculty liaison program partners a UMW faculty member with every UMW intercollegiate athletic team to strengthen support networks and increase resources for student-athlete success. Ultimate Subaru is committed to the growth and education of UMW Eagles, their hometown team and strives to foster the same values of community as the UMW Faculty Liaison program. Faculty Liaisons will serve as mentors and role models to student-athletes while being involved in team activities. For more information about the program contact Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Lynne Richardson.
Faculty Liaison’s Name: Leah Cox
Faculty Liaison for: Field Hockey
Years at UMW: 14
Position/Title: Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion
What was your favorite sport growing up? Briefly describe your favorite memory playing or watching it. I played volleyball in high school and for a short time in college. As someone who had not played until high school, I remember learning the true technique of playing the sport and realizing how difficult it was and how much physical conditioning and strength was needed to play well. The sport looked so easy, until you actually learned how to play. I realized nothing is ever as easy as it seems.
Where is your favorite place around town to get a bite to eat? I am a true ice cream lover… so any place that serves a good chocolate milkshake is where you will find me.
If you could pick one super power to have, what would it be and why? The ability to freeze or manipulate time. I could either prevent some things from happening, or create more time in the day to get more done.
Other than the sport you partnered with, what is your next favorite sport and why? I am a big baseball fanatic. Growing up, I lived just a few blocks from Memorial stadium, the first home of the Baltimore Orioles. As a young adult, I lived just a few blocks from Camden Yards where I could hear the roar of the crowd on any given evening. My father use to share stories of past baseball heroes and my godfather was a player in the Negro Leagues. It became even more fun as my son also played baseball from the time he was 5 until now.
If you were a Head Coach and could pick three words to motivate your team and hang in their locker room which words would you choose? Persevere, Teamwork and Respect.
What does a great leader look like to you? Great leaders are humble. They are strong and confident, and they know they don’t always have to be the one in front; they don’t have to prove that they are smart and talented. They know they will learn more and be able to lead better when they listen to others, exhibit patience, and wait for others to finish before speaking. These are individuals who not only exhibit humility, but they believe it. They don’t have to talk about the great things they have done, we see it. They don’t have to blame others for their mistakes, they accept them and they learn from their mistakes. A great leader will be the person whose confidence and strength will help others achieve their goals and lead their team to become successful.
What is a must read for UMW Student-Athletes? Ender’s Game.
What is the best advice you have ever heard given to a college graduate? Find what you love the most and then pursue it with all your heart.
Finally, if you were hanging out on Ball Circle picking the brains of four professional/famous athletes (living or deceased), who would they be? Jackie Robinson, Serena Williams, Cal Ripken and Gabby Douglas.
Ultimate Subaru, celebrating 10 years of service to the Fredericksburg community, is proud to be a supporter of UMW athletics. Call Ultimate Subaru today at (540) 898-6200 or come on in and visit us at 5160 Jefferson Davis Hwy, near Four Mile Fork. Find us online at www.driveultimatesubaru.com.
