BUFFALO, N.Y. – On February 4th, the D'Youville University Athletics Department hosted their annual Title IX Advancement TogetHER event held in the Health Professions Hub. This annual event is held on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, celebrating, and highlighting the significant impact of women in sports and to promote gender equality in the industry.
During the event, Director of Partnership Marketing with the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits, Ally Reisweber, was our keynote speaker. Working for a professional sports organization, Reisweber shared her journey of getting to that point, maximizing every opportunity, and hustling to get to where she wanted to go.
Later during the event, D'Youville Athletics presented three awards during the celebration for Title IX Advancement with one going to a student-athlete, coach, and community member.
Giselle Ramirez of women's volleyball, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Rachel Larabee, and Registered Dietitian & Student-Athlete Dietitian Counselor
Shannon Wilson were all recipients last evening.
Title IX Student-Athlete Advancement Award for a Student-Athlete – Giselle Ramirez, Women's Volleyball
Ramirez is a junior and captain on the women's volleyball team while also serving as a SAAC representative.
Ramirez represents excellence both on and off the court. She ranks amongst the conference leaders in blocks and hitting percentage, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the graduate Physical Therapy program. Her commitment to academic and athletic success is matched only by her dedication to serving others.
Ramirez has devoted many hours to Thrive Physiotherapy Clinic, where she not only assisted with physical therapy needs but also served as a translator for elderly Spanish-speaking patients. In this role, she helped expand access to care, ensured clear communication, and provide compassion and support to patients who might otherwise face barriers within the healthcare system.
Title IX Advancement Award for Coaching – Rachel Larabee, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
Larabee is in her first year as Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at D'Youville and has already made an immediate and meaningful impact across multiple programs. Larabee works closely with men's volleyball, field hockey, women's tennis, women's basketball, women's rowing, and women's wrestling-bringing a thoughtful, individualized approach to each team she supports. With a strong background in physical therapy support, fitness coaching, and performance training, Larabee blends technical knowledge with genuine care for her athletes.
A lifelong competitive weightlifter, she has also coached youth gymnastics and sailing, and currently competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Larabee's competitive spirit, dedication to athlete development, and commitment to excellence make her an incredible role model within the Saints community.
Title IX Advancement Award Community Member Award – Shannon Wilson, Registered Dietitian & Student-Athlete Dietitian Counselor
As a former women's soccer student-athlete, Wilson can relate first-hand to the experiences and challenges that are faced when it comes to nutrition. Wilson is always available, great for a chat, and is deeply passionate about health and wellness. She is consistently coming up with new strategies and solutions and is highly regarded by teams across campus. As well as this, Wilson caters to the specific needs of all her student-athletes whether it's vegetarians, those with allergies, or people from other cultures.
The thing that really sets Wilson apart is her complete loyalty to D'Youville athletics, Wilson is a proud D'Youville women's soccer alum, and her commitment to giving back to the DYU community is clear to all. While Wilson is undeniably skilled in her role, it is her genuine care that makes her stand out. Whether it's standing on the sidelines at Dobson in the freezing cold or traveling to support teams in the playoffs.
