The Katherine Ley Award was established in 1983 for the purpose of honoring an eastern women's athletics administrator who exemplifies the values and characteristics displayed by Katherine Ley which include: a strong proponent of women's issues; a creator of programs and opportunities for women in athletics; an idea person; a role model for women coaches and administrators; a person of demonstrated leadership, one who has the ability to make things happen and the ability to work with others; a person with a sense of what the past has to offer and what the future may bring; a person with a sense of humor that makes good times better and bad times easier to bear.

In 1966, Ley was one of the founders of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, the forerunner of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.  After serving a 12-year tenure at the State University College at Cortland as chair of Physical Education and Athletics for Women, Ley became athletics director at Capital University in Ohio.  At the time, she was one of only two women athletic administrators heading both men's and women's athletics.

Previous Recipients: