Simmons' Volleyball Player, Nafeesa M. Connolly, Named National SAAC Representative

Nafeesa M. Connolly (Natick, MA) of Simmons College has been appointed Division III National Student Athlete-Advisory Committee Representative for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. GNAC commissioner Joe Walsh stated, “We are extremely proud to have Nafeesa on the National SAAC. It is a win-win-win for all involved. She will be a thoughtful and eloquent representative, her education and future career will be positively impacted and all DIII student athletes will be better off because of Nafeesa’s work on this committee.” Connolly is a sophomore Communication and Public Relations Marketing major with a minor in Business. She plays on the Sharks volleyball team as an outside hitter, and this past season the team made it to the GNAC Semifinals. 

Nafeesa is excited to receive this appointment and to represent Simmons as she does her National SAAC duties. “Simmons has never had a National SAAC Representative before, and this will be great for the institution and raise the bar higher” said Nafeesa as she talked about the position and what it meant for her and Simmons. Having taken past leadership roles in high school and being the Community Service Chair for her campus SAAC was what fueled Nafeesa’s desire for this position. Nafeesa has always loved being a leader and going to leadership building conferences. She is also excited for the behind the scenes look and participation that will be involved with this leadership position. Some of which is the NCAA Legislation that will be discussed in January at the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nafeesa is honored to “be the voice for the conference, and a voice for the student-athletes” at this conference. Former assistant commissioner and former NCAA SAAC representative, Jessica Huntley, stated “The NCAA SAAC is an amazing opportunity and such an honor for Nafeesa, as one of the very few student-athletes to be selected to this committee. She will have an opportunity most student-athletes don’t have, the ability to speak on behalf of her fellow student-athletes and become immersed in the NCAA happenings. Nafeesa will have memories, experiences, and life-long friends that will help her excel in her future endeavors.” Ashley Snell, also a former National Representative, stated, “Becoming part of the National SAAC was one of the greatest learning experiences in my life. I am truly thankful for my experience and attribute much of my professional success today to the foundations that I learned on the committee. I learned to be independent from traveling the country alone, navigating new cities, to finding hotels and meeting places. I learned how to run a structured and productive business meeting no matter what the topic. I learned to fight for what I believe in and for what is fair, while still upholding a professional front. I learned how important it is to be an elected leader and to fully accept responsibility that lies on your shoulders.”

Her favorite project so far at Simmons with their SAAC has been the fundraising they have done for Breast Cancer this past fall. They have raised over $600 with tailgates at various sporting events on campus. As Community Service Chair, she is looking forward to the field day that Simmons Athletics will be holding for the Boys and Girls Club this year. As well as, working with the Special Olympics, which is the NCAA Division III initiative. She is eager to spearhead these community service projects. 

After college, Nafeesa hopes to earn a master’s degree in a subject that is similar to what she is majoring in now or medical information. She has two career aspirations one of which is to work in public relations for one of the Professional Sport teams in Boston, or for a hospital. She is particularly motivated to work in public relations for a hospital because of her past experience with her mother who has a health condition. This has inspired Nafeesa to want to work in the medical community and helping others. She also hopes to maybe earn a beauty license and open her own salon one day.