Durham Sports Commission with Duke Director of Athletics Nina King

Durham Sports Commission Deputy Director Kaila'Shea Menendez sits down with Duke Director of Athletics Nina King. They get into all things Duke athletics, Olympics, Durham, women in sports and more. 

Transcript

Kaila’Shea - 00:00:03: 

Durham, North Carolina, known as the Bull City, the City of Medicine, and my personal favorite, the City of Champions. My name is Kaila’Shea  Menendez, Deputy Director for the Durham Sports Commission. The Durham Sports Commission is an organization that is responsible for generating social and economic impact through sports to our local community. And I have the distinct honor and privilege of sitting across from Nina King, Duke University's Vice President and Director of Athletics and Adjunct Professor of Business Administration to discuss all things Duke Athletics, Durham, and so much more. First, more on our guest. After serving 13 years on the Duke Athletics Executive Leadership Team, Nina stepped into the role of Director of Athletics in May of 2021. She made history then becoming the first woman to assume the role at Duke, and only the third Black woman ever to hold the job at a Power Five school. From hiring coach John Shire to fill the shoes of Duke's legendary basketball coach, Coach K, to being named to the Sports Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Class of 2018, and being a wife and raising two boys along the way. I can personally attest that Nina is a role model to many in the sports industry, certainly to me. I'm honored to sit across from you, Nina. And I look forward to learning more about you. Thank you so much for being here. 

Nina - 00:01:26: 

Thanks for having me. What an honor. And what could be better than talking about Durham and Duke athletics? My two favorite topics. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:01:32: 

Yes. So you've done so much in your personal and professional career. And so for the listeners who may not be as familiar, can you share a little bit more about yourself? 

Nina - 00:01:44: 

Well, so the podcast is what, four hours? Just kidding. So quick about me. I grew up in Tampa, Florida. I am an only child of a single mom. So it was just the two of us during my childhood. And fun fact, I never played sports growing up. I like to tell people and kind of joke that I'm the most unathletic person working in athletics, but it's true. Didn't play organized sports growing up. I was a dancer. I did ballet, tap, jazz, and that was fun. I was on the dance team in high school. So I guess athletic a little bit, but just not sporty, if you will. My undergrad at Notre Dame. I was an accounting major. I served as a student manager there, and that's where I really kind of got the sports bug, developed a passion for college sports. So after I graduated Notre Dame, I interned in the athletic department there for a year. And this comes full circle here in a moment. The athletic director was in his first year there, and his name was Kevin White. And so I interned in his office, really was able to kind of shadow him in a multitude of different ways. As an intern, you kind of get thrown into everything. And so really was learning what an AD does. After that, I interned at the NCAA for a year in finance. And then after that, I went to law school at Tulane. After I finished law school, a job opened back up at Notre Dame in NCAA compliance. And so I did that for three years. And then Kevin White, who was still the athletic director at Notre Dame, became the athletic director at Duke, and he invited me to come with him. And so for 13 years, I worked right along his side as a deputy AD and really learned as much as I could about this crazy yet fun business. And when he retired, here we are. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:03:32: 

Wow. 

Nina - 00:03:32: 

So that's it. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:03:34: 

What a journey. And maybe when we're finished with this podcast, we'll love to learn more about tap, jazz, and ballet and your experience. 

Nina - 00:03:42: 

Sure. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:03:43: 

Sure. But awesome story. And as I think back to how every position, every opportunity prepares you for the next. And I know as I was looking and considering to take the role as a deputy director for the Durham Sports Commission, you and I had a conversation. And it was really about just your thoughts on the Durham community, the relationship between Duke Athletics and the Durham Sports Commission. And after that conversation, it just really made me feel as though this was, this was the line, and this was a good fit for me personally and professionally with where I was at in my career. So can you elaborate on how you recognize that Duke was the right fit for you when you first joined the university and how and why it continues to be aligned at this point in your journey? 

Nina - 00:04:27: 

Yeah. So for me, it's about the people. So I was at Notre Dame, my alma mater. I loved the place. I thought I was going to be there forever. I mean, get married, raise kids, live in the, in the South Bend community because I love the institution so much. But what I realized was I loved the people more. And so when Kevin White, who is this incredible collegiate athletics leader, invited me to come with him, I didn't even hesitate. Would I stay at my alma mater in this place I thought I would be at forever? Or would I take this opportunity to go and work right alongside Kevin in a new environment, a new place? So I guess I would say I was a little nervous, anxious about moving to a new place and really kind of learning, you know, a different institution and how that operated. But because I knew that I was going to work for the very best and Kevin, I really didn't hesitate. So and then obviously he had seen something in Duke University that aligned with how he ran a department and his values and, you know, kind of how collegiate athletics operates in this instance that he was comfortable with. So I trusted him and I took a leap of faith and said, absolutely, I will follow. And two others, came with us as well. So three of us from the Notre Dame Athletic department came with Kevin to Duke and I mean, if I had the decision to make all day, every day again, it would be the same one. Because, again, I trusted Kevin and what he knew. And then, of course, when I got here, Duke is filled with just absolutely amazing people from the president all the way through our entire Duke community. And so I've only ever worked at two places, and I don't see myself really going anywhere else. And it really does have to be a place that aligns with your values and your passions. And for me, Duke is certainly it. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:06:19: 

That's awesome. Well, we certainly don't want you to go anywhere else. So we hope we have you here forever. And Kevin White sounds like he's an amazing mentor. Amazing male champion and advocate. And we need those. We need those, particularly for women as we are looking to be game changers in this space. To have that allyship is so important. 

Nina - 00:06:38: 

Absolutely. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:06:39: 

So as you look back at almost 16 years at Duke, can you believe it? Time flies. They say time flies when you're having fun. But almost 16 years at Duke, what are some of the things that raised to the top in terms of highlights? 

Nina - 00:06:53: 

I mean, I guess I would have to say first and foremost, having the opportunity to become the director of athletics. And so just finished my third year as athletic director. And it's interesting. I didn't realize that Kevin was preparing me to take a leadership opportunity somewhere, not necessarily Duke, but for 13 years working as his deputy AD. Really, he was preparing me for that moment that I stepped into this chair, if you will, three years ago. And so for me, that's obviously pretty memorable in my 16-year journey. You know, of course, the national championships, we have seen a few in our time in men's basketball, in women's tennis, in women's golf, men's lacrosse have won a handful of national championships, a host of ACC championships. But really, you know, it's those moments where you realize, oh, wow, I did have an impact on this student athlete or on this team's journey, whatever it might be. We have student athletes that come back to visit all the time after they've graduated, and they'll kind of give you a highlight or a moment here or there. And you realize, you know, for some of the challenges and obstacles we face in daily life, really the, the big picture, making a positive impact on a student athlete's life is really what we're here for. So across the 16 years, I'd have to say those are the moments that matter the most. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:08:16: 

Absolutely. I mean, that's the student athlete experience. I was fortunate enough to be a student athlete at Western Carolina and and the experience was phenomenal. And so the work that you're doing. And the team that you're surrounded by, I mean, I still think back today, and I thank my administrators who were in various roles. Like, thank you for all that you did for the, the tireless nights and the mornings and the weekends and the travel because it did make a difference in my life. So thank you. 

Nina - 00:08:44: 

Good. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:08:44: 

Relieving. Yes. So in addition to your roles at Duke, you've been the chair of the Women's NCAA Division One, a basketball committee, and a board member of an organization that we love, Women Leaders in Sports, as well as other organizations. But along the way, you've been described as a natural leader. And so has leading always been something that has felt natural to you? Or is that something that you've really had to hone in and get right over time? 

Nina - 00:09:14: 

Well, I would love to say yes. I just woke up and became a leader. No, it has not always been natural to me. I mean, so much so that this all keeps coming back to Kevin White. I'm sorry, but he's just so impactful in my life. And when he told me that he was going to retire, he had made that career decision. I thought, okay, great. I'm going to go find another athletic director to work for. And that was kind of my first instinct. And that was going to be my plan. And he sat me down and he said, no, no, no. Do you realize you are ready for this job? You can do this job. And it took somebody telling me, sit down and think about this before you make a crazy decision to leave or go do something else. And so when I thought about it, I knew I could do it because I had watched pretty closely someone do it for so long. It was just that I want to do it. And the thought of being the leader, sitting in the chair, really made me anxious. I didn't know if I wanted to step up to do that. I had. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the leadership team to work with a host of colleagues in making recommendations for decisions, but not making the decision, having an opinion on a decision, but not ultimately being the one to decide something. So that got me nervous. These jobs can tend to be high profile at times and forward facing and out in the public doing television interviews and podcast interviews and speaking. I don't enjoy those things often unless I'm doing them with someone like you. It makes me very comfortable. But, you know, getting up and speaking in front of groups and press conferences and, you know, just again, the public nature of the job was really something I didn't think I wanted at the time. My kids were fairly young. Did I want to bring that kind of pressure on our family? So there were a lot of reasons why not, but the reason yes, and the reason to do it and to step into this leadership role really overpowered kind of all of those other things. Three years in, I still hate the speaking engagements. I constantly try to think of how I can get sick on my way into the speaking engagements. I don't have to go in, but I do it. So, you know, it, it natural, no. No. But it's something that once you have a confidence in yourself and a belief in yourself, you really can do it. Make yourself get up, put your big girl pants on and go lead. And then again, when, when I have the opportunity to watch what I get to lead at 27 sports, 350 employees, club sports, recreation, intramurals, et cetera, that's where you're just kind of like, okay, I can do this. I can get out of my comfort zone, every once in a while and get out there and do it. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:12:08: 

Yes. So you, you spoke about how Kevin White spoke that into existence for you and said, you can do this. And you also were vulnerable enough to share, you know, some things make you nervous even still to this day as a, as a seasoned professional in this industry. So like, what's that internal self-talk like for you? You have this big speaking engagement or you've got to, you know, present with the division one women's basketball committee. What is that? What does that self-talk look like? 

Nina - 00:12:37: 

You've done this before, as you mentioned, seasoned, not old, just have been in this position before. You know, you can do it. I often also think about, for example, we're doing this at one o'clock in the afternoon as I'm driving here thinking about how much I don't want to do this. Don't worry, it's everybody, not just you that I don't want to do this with. But as much as I don't want to do this at one o'clock, just think by four o'clock, you're going to be done with this and you're going to be on to doing something else. So I'm often kind of thinking about the next fun thing that I get to do or when I'm going to have the moment of relief, take a breath, that kind of thing. Not that I'm looking past the event, but just thinking this isn't going to last forever. So again, deep breath, big girl pants on and go. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:13:25: 

Yes, I love that. So changing topic here to the current state of Duke Athletics. And so from multiple ACC, Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, to football's bowl game victory, to Elite 8 and Sweet 16 runs by the men's and women's basketball teams, to the first women's college World Series appearance for Duke softball. It has been an amazing year for Duke Athletics. And so now that the semester has come to a close, the summer is here, the student athletes and students have graduated. You are sitting on your back patio, back deck with a drink, beverage of your choice. What, as you think about the competition that's wrapped up this past year, can you put into words what this year has been like? 

Nina - 00:14:13: 

Been so much fun. We've certainly had our challenges and obstacles, but just overall fun. Field hockey made it to the final four after struggling for a couple of years. And so just watching the coach and the student athletes really be intentional about how to turn a program around and then watch it come to fruition was really incredible. You know, as you mentioned, football had a bowl game win. Well, that was in the midst of a coaching turnover. You know, we have a new head coach and a new staff, and there was a lot of uncertainty around the program as we prepared for a bowl game and went into Birmingham and ultimately won. So that was exciting. A lot of our spring sports just crushed it. We have 11 spring sports and all of them competed in the postseason in the NCAA tournaments this year. There is an award called the NACDA Directors Cup, and that for all Division I institutions and Division II and III, but for us, all Division I institutions receive points, based on your NCAA postseason finish. And so kind of a measure of postseason competitive success. So after the winner, we were sitting in 28th place and I thought, oh my goodness, how are we really going to be able to kind of vault up the standings? And again, our spring sports just crushed it. We're currently in 16th place with one more sport to score. Baseball is not quite done yet. So, you know, obviously I'd love a top 10 finish and then a top five finish and then finish first. We're very competitive in athletics, but that's a testament to her programs and competitive success across all 27 of our programs. So yeah, it was a good year. 16th is good. I want us to be great, right? And what can we set our sights on for next year and how can we continue to climb up that ladder? 

Kaila’Shea - 00:16:05: 

Absolutely. That's the goal. Continue to be great. So over the summer, women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson is headed to Paris to serve as the assistant coach for Team USA in the Olympics. And then we know that Duke's former men's basketball coach, Coach K, was a longtime coach for Team USA. So what does it mean for that Duke legacy and that representation to continue on? 

Nina - 00:16:30: 

Yeah, that's so exciting. I mean, to be able to go and represent your country on a national stage, international stage, excuse me, global, is just absolutely incredible. And so having Kara represent Team USA in women's basketball is a testament to what she's accomplished as a coach, I mean, last Olympics, she was the head coach for three-on-three and then was invited to become a coach on the staff for five-on-five, traditional women's basketball, if you will. And for her to not only represent Team USA, but then to be there on behalf of Duke is just incredible. We've got one other coach, one of our wrestling assistant coaches is going to be wrestling himself, representing Puerto Rico. And then we've got a host of former student athletes and current that are playing in the games in basketball, in soccer, in field hockey, across several different sports and representing several different countries, not just Team USA, but Nigeria and Canada and Puerto Rico. And so that's really exciting. As I mentioned, we have 27 sports at Duke and obviously football, men's and women's basketball are kind of known as the most high profile revenue sports, if you will. And the rest of our sports we refer to as Olympic sports. Those sports are absolutely crucial for us to be able to kind of provide as a feeder system into Team USA and other national governing bodies for our student athletes to come and train here. Compete at the highest level in NCAA sports, and then to go on and represent their countries is really important. And so as kind of the collegiate model is being threatened a bit, lots of challenges and obstacles, which that's like four more podcasts, if you will. But while that's being threatened, it's really important to me and to, I know many of my colleagues to be able to maintain the Olympic sport model so that again, those student athletes can come and have a training experience while they're in college and then go on to represent their country. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:18:28: 

That is absolutely incredible, Nina. And in partnership with the Durham Sports Commission, Duke hosted the 2023 NCAA Fencing Championships, which I have a whole new appreciation for the sport of fencing. Through this process last year, I learned so much about the various weapons, about the strategy, the pace, the power of the lunge. I was actually having a conversation with one of the coaches and I said, what makes a great fencer? And he said, oh, the lunge. 

Nina - 00:18:56: 

Absolutely. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:18:56: 

So the power of the lunge and how mental that sport is. And so I really enjoyed it. And I look forward to watching fencing this year, this summer. But Duke is also set to host 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championships. And so what are some of the sports that you find particularly engaging that may not immediately spring top of mind for spectators who typically like to go to your basketball and your football games? 

Nina - 00:19:23: 

Sure. So it's kind of like you're asking me to pick my favorite child. People ask me a form of that question. And usually it's what's your favorite sport to watch all the time. And all 27 are my favorite sports to watch. But, you know, as you mentioned, when you say Duke, most people will think basketball right away and then football naturally. We've got rowing, golf, tennis, fencing, volleyball, wrestling, et cetera. And so, again, I think folks would enjoy the opportunity to come to campus and watch any number of those sports. And they all do compete on our campus. And most recently, baseball had been competing in downtown Durham. We have a great relationship with the Durham Bulls, but we've brought baseball back onto our campus. And so now all 27 of our sports are competing on campus. And so if you head to our website and look up schedules, we start in August and we go through June. Somebody is always throwing a ball or swimming in a pool or throwing around the racket a little bit at any point in the year. And so I would really just encourage anyone to come out and watch any of the above. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:20:39: 

All right. Let's get out there and support Duke Athletics. So Duke is celebrating its centennial this year, which is a huge milestone. And how has Duke Athletics been partaking in this celebration? And what are some of the celebrations that fans can look forward to this fall? 

Nina - 00:20:56: 

Yeah. So how incredible. Duke is only 100 years old. I mean, I think a lot of times when I've told people that throughout this year, people are like, what? Only 100? Which is pretty remarkable how far the institution has come. And it's short tenure. So within athletics, we have chosen to celebrate across all of our sports. Each sport at a home game will kind of tab the game, the centennial game. And we started in January. So some of our winter sports and all of our spring sports have already hosted their centennial game, where we really highlighted as part of the centennial and talk about the history of that sport and have giveaways around the sport. And so, this coming fall is when the opportunity we'll have for our fall sports, football, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, et cetera. And in football, we're going to have a really big blowout kind of centennial weekend, September 27th weekend. It will be our founder's day celebration, our homecoming celebration. And obviously in Centennial celebration and happen to play one of our biggest rivals that Saturday in football. It's the Duke Carolina football game. Campus has a lot of events. There'll be a big concert on the quad that weekend. And so there's just going to be a lot going on to celebrate 100. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:22:17: 

Oh, wow. That's awesome, looking forward to that. So as you think about the college experience in general for the students that are at Duke or any college, you know, how college prepares you to be a well-rounded individual, how it exposes you to things that otherwise you may not have been exposed to, the relationships and the friendships that you make while in college that pay dividends throughout your life. And so how important is the city of Durham to the Duke University experience? 

Nina - 00:22:47: 

It is so important because when you're in college, you don't just go from your dorm to your classroom, maybe to catch a game and then back to your dorm at night. I mean, Duke students are truly becoming a fabric, a piece of the fabric in this community, not just on campus. So really important for Duke University to be integrated in the larger Durham community in ways that are impactful for both our students, faculty and staff, but also our Durham residents and to have that kind of seamless integration for both and both supporting each other. Right? The Duke community supporting the Durham community and vice versa. So I think it's really important for our students and specifically, you know, my realm, our student athletes to get to know Durham when they get to campus. And to that end in the summer, we have a Project Durham, if you will, for our student athletes, freshmen student athletes that are coming onto campus for the first time to stay. You know, typically they've come for their visits and in their college decisions. But when they arrive to campus to start their college journey, we take them around Durham. We take them around campus. Kind of show them some academic buildings and the library and food halls and whatnot. But then to take them around campuses or Durham as well and learn about our community and some of the history of our community. I mean, there is so much richness in Durham and how we came to be and and how far we've come in terms of innovation and progress. And so really, it's important to teach our students, new employees as well, when they come to Durham about the community that we're living and working and playing in. And so. So, yes, Durham is an absolute critical part of a student, not just student athletes journey at Duke. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:24:33: 

I love that. And Durham is so bold and vibrant. It is. So many great places to eat food. 

Nina - 00:24:38: 

Yes. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:24:40: 

So you also have a touch point not only with your student athletes, but as you know, with students just in your role as as a professor. Can you talk a little bit about that? 

Nina - 00:24:49: 

Sure. So it's important to me to be able to say I'm kind of a an engaged campus citizen. Right. Not just living in my athletics bubble. But I want to make sure that I'm involved in campus life as a vice president, as an adjunct professor. You know, those are our roles that get me out of out of Cameron every once in a while. And so for 16 years, Kevin White and I have co-taught a business class at the Fuqua School of Business, Sports Business, a very original name. But it's true. It's what we talk about sports business and not just from the college athletics perspective. We often bring in guest speakers to kind of round out, um, the business perspective. And so whether it's television, pro sports, niche sports, we've had people from pickleball, pro pickleball tour come and talk or other commissioners or athletic directors, you know, from a big public school. And, you know, we can talk about the differences in running a collegiate athletic department at a small private school. So it's been really fun and engaging. And across 16 years, we've had a lot of great students. And so it's fun to hear from students, those that are getting into the sports business field. You know, I took your class 10 years ago, whatnot. It's it's really interesting. Duke has a new alumni director, director of alumni and engagement. And I haven't met her personally yet, but we have met because she did tell me she took our class 10 years ago. So kind of fun. But it's just a great, as you mentioned, touchpoint to be able to to interact with different parts of the Duke community. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:26:20: 

Yeah, that's great. So the Durham Sports Commission established a One Team One Durham fund that helps to increase youth sport participation throughout our community. And so. What benefits do you believe sports provides to kids? I know that you mentioned that, you know, you didn't necessarily play sports. You did ballet and tap jazz. I would consider that as a sport. But, you know, you've been around it and your kids play sports. So what benefits do you think kids learn through being active in sports? 

Nina - 00:26:50: 

There's so many. And it is first and foremost being active, although I think my kids are sitting at home playing video games right now. But it is, you know, the active participation. It is a part of being a team, whether you're playing an individual sport or a team sport. You're certainly working with other people and learning the value of teamwork and collaboration. You know, sports are a powerful unifier. We can be so divided on so many things. But you start playing sports or you start cheering for sports. And all of a sudden, you've got lots of people coming together, either on a team or in the stands rallying around a unified cause, cheering for their team. I also that's, I think, what the Olympics also does for us as a nation really truly unifies us. So I think sports can be so powerful in so many different ways. And so obviously it starts at the youth level and kind of building that pipeline. And while not every youth sport athlete is going to become a collegiate athlete or a professional athlete, making sure that we're providing access to opportunities so that young people in our community can really kind of realize their potential. If the opportunity is there, I think is really important. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:28:01: 

Yeah, absolutely. For me, sports taught me grit. It taught me the grind. 

Nina - 00:28:07: 

Yes. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:28:07: 

And it also taught me how to lose and how to get back up when you do and how to get better and continue to strive to be the best. You may not always be the best, but you can strive to be the best and put your best foot forward and work really hard to do that. So something that has definitely paid well for me throughout my career. Powerful. Yeah. So the past two years, you have attended and spoken at the Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit. This was in partnership with women leaders in sports here in Durham at the Durham Convention Center. And this event is designed to empower and bring together women who have aspirations to be where you are and to work in sports and beyond. And so can you talk a little bit about your experience with that event and its importance to you as you have 150 plus women in the room who, like I said, want to be the next Nina King? 

Nina - 00:29:01: 

Amazing. First of all, props to you because I know that was your brainchild. And remember sitting having coffee with you a couple of years ago and you were telling me about this idea and absolutely 100% support it. Because, you know, where we continue to build the bench, build the pipeline in creating opportunities and access for people, I think, is critically important and especially for women. We are in sports, like most industries, traditionally underrepresented in the positions of leadership. And so I think it is on us. We're lucky enough to be in these positions of leadership. We got here. And so it's on us to certainly help develop, not the next generation, because while I'm older than you, I don't have time to bring up the next generation. I still think I have a lot of career left in front of me. And so it's bringing women to come down the road with us, to take that journey with us and make sure that we have more at the table. And so what the summit has done has just been, it's so powerful and inspiring to watch and realize how much excitement, enthusiasm, and passion we have right here in our community, and certainly hope that's something that can be replicated around the country. But what Women Leaders in Sports is doing nationally for women leaders and to be able to partner as a Durham community with an organization like that is really, it's just, it's so cool and so much fun. And to walk into the room and usually when we are one of a few in the room and loud and proud when we're one of a few, but to walk into this particular room where we are the room, it's all women in sports and aspiring leaders is really, really inspiring. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:30:59: 

Let's go. 

Nina - 00:31:00: 

Yes. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:31:00: 

Awesome. So you talked about building the bench and that is so important, dreaming big. And as a leader, you have such a positive impact on people like me who want to dream big, who want to have aspirations and who want to lead at a high level. And so I think that's important success takes a village. And it's not only the people who are closest to you, who are uplifting you and telling you that you can do it, but it's also the people who are around you pouring into you in various ways. And so you've done that for the women here in this community and beyond. So really appreciate you for that. 

Nina - 00:31:34: 

Thank you. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:31:35: 

Yeah, you bet. So when you are welcoming folks to Durham, whether it's coming in for a game or during the offseason, what are some of your favorite Bull City recommendations? 

Nina - 00:31:48: 

Well, first and foremost, catch Duke Athletics, any contest. Even if you're coming for a football or basketball game, make sure you kind of take in campus. And so we've got quite the athletics footprint, but there's so much on campus. To visit the Nasher Museum, to visit the gardens, the chapel, you know, kind of the iconic venues around Duke University. We are a walking campus, which I think sometimes frustrates people. They want to drive right up to the front door of fill in the blank. No, park your car, walk around campus, enjoy the green. But I would suggest first and foremost visiting Duke University. But then Durham, I mean, there's just so much around here from parks. My kids love coming downtown and visiting the skateparks every once in a while, although I hardly watch because I get really nervous and don't want any broken bones. The farmer's market in downtown Durham is quite the scene on a Saturday morning. There's so much around here. And Durham is growing, not just in terms of population, but I kind of feel like we're sprawling out a little bit and moving kind of out of what traditionally you would do in downtown Durham or around Duke's campus. There's just so many opportunities to do things. Running on the tobacco trail is so much fun. Wow, I didn't even plug the Duke University golf course yet, which is owned and operated by athletics. But a public course that's just an absolute jewel in Durham, North Carolina. So for the golfers to come out and see that, there's so much. I mean, there's a lot to do in this area. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:33:25: 

As our mayor likes to say, Durham is dope. 

Nina - 00:33:27: 

It is. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:33:27: 

I'm stealing that. Durham is dope. So many great things to do and to get into, whether it's just you or your family or friends. So it's an awesome city. All right. You ready for some rapid fire? 

Nina - 00:33:38: 

Let's do it. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:33:38: 

Okay, here we go. What's a sport you wish you played? If you had all the athleticism in the world, what's a sport that you would have played? 

Nina - 00:33:48: 

Okay. So to go back to the, I don't have a favorite child. It's true. When I sit and watch our sports, I'm watching volleyball. I'm like, wow, I wish I could play volleyball. I'll go out and watch tennis. I'm like, oh, they make it look so easy. Maybe I could play tennis. So I don't know. I mean, really any sport I wish I could say I was athletic at. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:34:07: 

I would say for me, it would be fencing. 

Nina - 00:34:09: 

Yeah. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:34:10: 

I'm really been, Forge Fencing is right downtown. So they've got some free clinics and classes and I'm trying it, but this summer I might have to check it out some more, practice my skill there. 

Nina - 00:34:20: 

It's fun. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:34:21: 

Do you have a favorite Durham restaurant? 

Nina - 00:34:24: 

So, oh, that's a good question. I mean, we're such a foodie town now. Unfortunately, I have one child that is the pickiest eater. I mean, I think there's three things in life that he eats. So it's very hard for us as a family to go out to dinner. Although we've started to give up on him a little bit. And he can just come and sit there while we eat. If my husband and I are going to go to dinner, I love Mother and Sons. Just a good classic Italian place. That'd be my go-to. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:34:53: 

Oh, that's a great one. Place you most want to travel that you haven't been yet. 

Nina - 00:34:58: 

Okay. I'm going to cheat here. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:34:59: 

Okay, cheat. 

Nina - 00:35:00: 

Because I'm going in a few weeks to South Africa. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:35:03: 

What? 

Nina - 00:35:04: 

Very excited. Okay. Another Duke plug. We have in the summer a civic engagement program for student athletes to go do service work around the world. And we started this program about seven years ago, and we partnered with Stanford. And we had four sites, and at each site we'd send five Duke and five Stanford student athletes. And they would do three weeks of civic engagement. This year we're not doing it with Stanford. It's just Duke student athletes. And we're going to – we've been already a couple weeks ago to Panama, South Africa, and Costa Rica. So I haven't been to visit the student athletes yet. And so this summer I'm going to South Africa. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:35:39: 

Take lots of pictures. Oh my goodness. That's awesome. That's going to be so much fun. Okay, if you had to pick a walkout song, what would it be? 

Nina - 00:35:47: 

Okay. Can I have two? It just depends on the feel of the moment. So, Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys. That's what I'm talking about. Yeah. Or if I need to really get pumped up and, yes, I can do it, put my big girl pants on, the champion Carrie Underwood. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:36:03: 

Ooh, two great ones. 

Nina - 00:36:05: 

Those would be it. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:36:07: 

So you talked about the Duke University golf course. If you had an opportunity to go play this weekend, who are you inviting? 

Nina - 00:36:14: 

Dead or alive. Anybody? Mix of both. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:36:17: 

Mix of both. Anybody. 

Nina - 00:36:18: 

All right. So it's fun because I usually ask our student athletes this question too. If you could invite three people to dinner, who would it be? And I let them go dead or alive. So that's why I qualified. Okay, so Michelle Obama, let's go. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the lawyer in me, just want to chat with RBG and Serena Williams. Incredible athlete who would probably have to carry us on the golf course. Cause like I said, not an, not an athlete. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:36:45: 

Wow. Okay. Can I join that crew? So Nina, not quite rapid fire here, but you talk highly about your mom and you talk about, I'm going to call her mama Lucy. So you talk about mama Lucy and having traveled across the country and coming to the States for school and college and moving to Tampa, having you as a single mother and the strength that, you know, she, she had to have with raising you. And what's one of the things that really resonates with you when you think about like every day, like that's just that that's her voice inside your head that has really helped you to be the best leader that you possibly can be. 

Nina - 00:37:25: 

Well, first of all, you've got a great memory remembering my mom's journey and her name, Lucy. I would say each day I rely on work hard. I mean, just as simple as that. But it's sometimes we don't want to do things. I'm tired. I'm burnt out. I don't feel like cooking dinner for the kids. Or I don't feel like going to this meeting or whatever. But I don't have a choice. And thinking back to my mom not having a choice, right? Maybe she didn't want to come home and make me dinner. Or maybe she didn't want to take me to ballet. Maybe she was busy or that kind of thing. But she had to because she didn't have a choice. It was just her. And she was responsible for me and me growing up. And she made everything work. And I'm sure she had those moments where she was like, I just don't want to fill in the blank. But she did it. And so, you know, thinking each day, like, sure, there's going to be obstacles or there's going to be things that we don't want to do. But just do it. I mean, sometimes there just is no choice. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:38:29: 

Yeah. That made me think about my father when he talked about his grandmother. And he said, you know, I didn't have a lot of, his grandmother and his mom. I didn't have a lot of resources, but I had the only resource that mattered. And that was love. And so that really resonates with me. 

Nina - 00:38:47: 

Yeah. That's sweet. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:38:49: 

Thank you, Nina, for your time. I appreciate you so much. Fired up about all things Duke athletics and look forward to catching some games. And we're so fortunate to have Duke University in Durham and grateful for your collaboration and for your partnership always. Really appreciate you. 

Nina - 00:39:04: 

Thank you. And likewise, I mean, the Durham Sports Commission means so much to us. And to be able to bring sport to this community together has really been a great journey to be on with you. 

Kaila’Shea - 00:39:13: 

Thank you. Thank you. One last time, I'm Kaila'Shea Menendez with the Durham Sports Commission, and we hope to see you, all of our listeners, out and about in the Durham community supporting big and small sporting events. Check out our durhamncsports.com website for more information for our sports calendar, as well as get all of the latest sports happening here in the Bull City. If you'd like to contribute to our One Team, One Durham fund mentioned earlier in our conversation, please look at our website, durhamncsports.com, and search One Team, One Durham for more information. Many thanks to the American Underground, as well as Earfluence for their support in this podcast, and of course, to everyone who tuned in, thank you so much. Until next time.