FORT LAUDERDALE – On Thursday, Feb. 2, Nova Southeastern University will host its 17^th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Luncheon featuring Anucha Browne as the keynote speaker at the Rick Case Arena beginning at 11:45 a.m. Since 2012, Browne has been serving as the NCAA Vice President of Women's Basketball Championships and will be named NSU's 2017 Pioneer Award winner at the conclusion of the event.  
 
Browne was named the NCAA's vice president of women's basketball championships in August 2012. In this role, Browne sets the strategic direction for, and oversees the operation and management of, the Division I, II, and III women's basketball championships. She is responsible for the NCAA's relationship with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), while serving as the primary liaison to the Division I, II and III women's basketball committees and providing strategic oversight of the site-selection process for each championship.
 
Browne was previously the University of Buffalo senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator, where she supervised men's and women's basketball, volleyball, softball, swimming, diving and rowing. She was also responsible for marketing and ticket sales efforts, corporate partnerships, community relations, event presentation and operations for revenue sports. Additionally, she was instrumental in producing higher ticket, suite and sponsor revenues, as well as spearheading a new community service approach that enabled the Buffalo student-athletes to participate in a variety of impactful service initiatives.
 
Prior to her service at Buffalo, Browne was the senior vice president of marketing and business operations for the NBA's New York Knicks.
 
In her collegiate career, Browne was a highly decorated women's basketball student-athlete at Northwestern, earning All-Big Ten team honors three times and Big Ten Player of the Year twice. Browne holds the all-time conference records for scoring (2,307 points) and rebounds (951). In 1985, she led all Division I women's basketball players in scoring average with 30.5 points per game. She was twice named as a Wade and Naismith Trophy Finalist and was a three-time member of the All-Big Ten Conference and Women's Sports Federation All-American teams. Browne was inducted into Northwestern's Hall of Fame, and was also named as Northwestern University's Athlete of the Century No. 4, Northwestern's Athlete of the Decade and to the Big Ten Conference All Decade Team.
 
Browne is a board member of both the Black Coaches Association and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. She earned her master's degree from Florida State.
 
Background on NGWSD
National Girls & Women in Sports day began in 1987 and serves as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication in promoting equality for women's sports. Following her passing from Marfan's Syndrome in 1986, NGWSD evolved into an event that celebrates the extraordinary achievements in girls' and women's sports and the positive influence athletic participation brings to their lives. NGWSD recognizes the ongoing effort towards equality and access for women in sports and the nations' commitment to expand sport and participation opportunities for all girls and future generations. With that in mind, women and organizations across the nation celebrate and honor this day.