In this Q&A episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, hosts Daralyse Lyons and Zack James speak with Temple University's Dr. Nikki Franke, Head Fencing Coach and former US Olympian. In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Franke expounds upon the lessons learned in the first two episodes of this series, while also reflecting on her own experiences of being a Black female fencer, coach and Olympian.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• What it takes in order to be a pioneer in a high-pressure setting, such as that found within competitive sports.

• The power of prioritizing connection and relationships in unifying groups of individuals around common goals.

• The importance of supporting athletes as people, not just for their athletic accomplishments.

• The role of exposing youths of all backgrounds to different sports.

• The importance of diverse representation within athletics.

• The value that can be derived, especially for future generations, by providing greater opportunities for kids to become involved in sports.

• The importance of supporting future generations in creating authentic communication in a world of social media and constant engagement with technology.

• The role that balance creates in curbing the loss that athletes feel when their playing days are over.

Our guest expert this episode is:

Dr. Nikki Franke - Dr. Franke was a member of the 1976 and 1980 US Olympic Fencing teams and was the United States Fencing Association's National Foil Champion in both 1975 and 1980. Nikki competed in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games capturing a silver medal in the 1975 individual foil competition and a bronze in the 1979 competition. While attending Brooklyn College, where she graduated with honors, Nikki was a four year letter winner placing third individually at the 1972 NIWFA National Championships and was named an NIWFA All-American. In 1979 she was inducted into the Brooklyn College Hall of Fame.

After transitioning into the role of coach, she continued to receive additional hall of fame honors and awards. In 1995, Nikki was inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1998, she was inducted into the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame. And in 2002, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame, which was established by the Women's Sports Foundation. Nikki was one of only three women to be inducted that year and was chosen based on her impressive coaching, playing teaching and community service records. A true trailblazer in her field she was the first Black woman hired to coach an NCAA fencing team. And now in her 49th year at the helm of the Temple Fencing program, Dr. Franke recently led the Temple Owls to their highest ranking in program history, which the team accomplished during a pandemic. She recently retired as an Associate Professor in Temple University's Department of Public Health, and she holds a Master's Degree in Health Education as well as a doctorate degree.

Resources in this episode include:

A Balanced Life: Nikki Franke, Fencing Legend

Black Women in Sport Foundation

Click here for a full transcript of this episode.