GORHAM, Maine   –   Janet Judge, a highly sought after sports law and NCAA legislative speaker, will be joining the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics as part of the Huskies' 2024 NCAA Division III Week celebration (April 1-7).
 
One of the foremost authorities on Title IX, student-athlete well-being in the nation, and a co-Founder of Education & Sports Law Group, LLC, Judge draws the attention of leadership at colleges and universities across the nation from all three NCAA Divisions. Taking part in the Huskies' Division III Week celebrations, Judge will be on campus Tuesday, April 2 (8 am) for her presentation, ""Intercollegiate Athletics as a Learning Community: Developing Transferable & Transformational Skills."
 
Known as the "super lawyer" for collegiate athletics and named the Sports Lawyer of the Year (Boston) by The Best Lawyers in America guide three times, Judge is well-versed in civil rights compliance, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in-house program reviews and Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) matters. A nationally-recognized expert in the area of Title IX, Judge – a former Division I student-athlete - has worked with hundreds of colleges and universities on a variety of topics, including diversity, equity and inclusion, social media education, and Title IX Compliance.
 
"Janet has made sports law her life's work, and we are truly fortunate to have her on campus and present to our student-athletes as part of our Division III Week celebration," said University of Southern Maine Director of Athletics Al Bean. "She is among the most knowledgeable and respected people in her field. As a former NCAA student-athlete herself, Janet can speak to the transitive and marketable skills that are achieved through intercollegiate athletic participation. Everyone in attendance at Janet's presentation will learn and greatly benefit from her - she is truly outstanding."
 
Judge has previously lent her expertise and guidance to the Huskies' Athletics Department on numerous occasions, helping craft and shape necessary policy, and has served as a consultant on the University's Title IX Review.  Most recently, Judge, a founding board member of the USM Athletics Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board, took part in the Huskies' 2023 National Girls' & Women in Sports/50 Years of Title IX celebration.
 
About Division III Week
Since 1985, the University of Southern Maine Huskies have enjoyed tremendous success academically and in the competition arena as a member of the NCAA's largest division – Division III.  With a dozen national championships, nearly 150 All-Americans, countless all-conference and all-region citations, national community service honors, and a lengthy list of individual and team academic awards, University of Southern Maine Athletics, its staff, and student-athletes have firmly established a tradition of well-rounded achievement and success.
 
Before officially becoming a member of the NCAA, Huskies' Athletics embraced the Division III philosophy through the concept of The Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community. Honoring this unique balance between higher education and athletic achievement, the University of Southern Maine, like the 434 other Division III member schools, will celebrate NCAA Division III Week April 1-7, 2024.
 
Currently celebrating 50 years of Division III, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has annually recognized its largest membership group since 2010. Per the NCAA, Division III week is an opportunity to observe and celebrate the impact athletics and student-athletes have on campus and in the surrounding community.
 
 

2024 NCAA Division III Week
Date	Event	Location/Time
Monday, April 1	Student-Athlete Presentation: "Why I chose Division III? A day in the life."	Gorham High School, 9:15 am
	Mindfulness Mondays with Jim Karcanes	Alumni Reception Center, 7 pm
Tuesday, April 2	Intercollegiate Athletics as a Learning Community: Developing Transferable & Transformational Skills with Janet Judge	USM Ice Arena, 8 am
Wednesday, April 3	Faculty/Staff Appreciation Game	USM Softball Stadium, 4 & 6 pm
Thursday, April 4	Student-Athlete Presentation: "Why I chose Division III? A day in the life."	Gorham High School, 12:30 pm
	Best Buddies Hang Out (Crafts, Pick up games, etc).	Hill Gymnasium, 12:00 pm
Friday, April 5	SAAC Fri-Yay Fun – Kickball	Costello Fieldhouse, 11 am – 1 pm