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Katie Hnida

PAVE Speaker

For pricing inquire below

Speech Topics:

Gender-based violence, Embracing Being a Female in Male Dominated Fields, Pursuing Your Dreams After Getting Knocked Down Again (And Again), Leadership Skills, and Activision: Change Your Community, Change The World.

Biography

As the first woman to play and score points in an NCAA Division One football game, Katie Hnida is a pioneer in the world of sports. She began her career at the University of Colorado, and then transferred to the University of New Mexico to fulfill her dream.

In 2004, Katie spoke out about the sexual harassment and rape she endured at the University of Colorado. Since then, she has been an active advocate against sexual violence.

Though Katie’s story of being a woman on an all-male Division One (FBS) football team is unique, her story of surviving a sexual assault is all too common. Katie’s perspective of being a survivor of sexual assault as well as a member of a major college football program is one-of-a-kind. There is no other woman in America who can bring the same understanding and experience of the intimate culture of men's top collegiate sports.

Katie’s signature speech is a multimedia presentation that describes her personal journey from victim to survivor; a journey that includes her own reaction to the assault, the response of the university, and hope and resources for survivors and their allies.

Along the way, she dispels common misconceptions about assault and discusses how friends, students, coaches, and administrators can work to prevent sexual violence and help survivors. Most importantly, Katie illustrates how men and women can work together to create a safer environment for all.

Passionate and personable, Katie creates an atmosphere that leads to a broader discussion of sexual assault and its impact on her audience. Her speech leaves audiences with a call to action and a message they will never forget. She will collaborate with your school or organization to personalize themes and topics to your specific needs.

In addition to speaking on gender-based violence, Katie offers speeches on a variety of topics including: Embracing Being a Female in Male Dominated Fields, Pursuing Your Dreams After Getting Knocked Down Again (And Again), Leadership Skills, and Activision: Change Your Community, Change The World.

Not only has Katie spoken at colleges and universities in nearly all 50 states, but she has had the honor of being the keynote speaker at a variety of events. She has delivered keynote speeches to members of Congress and spoken alongside Hilary Swank and Alec Baldwin at Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation event.

Katie also advocates for sexual assault awareness and prevention outside of her speaking engagements. She was part of the team that developed Major League Baseball’s first child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault awareness [training/seminar/materials/etc.] for their players and staff. She is also an advocate for LGBTQ issues, working with various LGBTQ organizations including being a board member of Out on The Streets, an organization dedicated to finding housing for homeless LGBTQ teens.

Katie is certified in Mentors in Violence prevention (MVP), the anti-violence and bystander intervention program developed by Jackson Katz. With her certification, she can both guide MVP facilitations as well as train future generations to lead the program. She is also certified in Trauma Response and Psychological First Aid by the International Trauma Center.

Over the years, she has won numerous awards for her work, including “Woman of Courage Award” from the National Organization of Women and “Leadership in Activism” from the Victims’ Rights Law Center.

 Katie is asked to appear regularly on CNN/HLN network shows as a sexual assault/domestic violence expert. She has also appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, ESPN, Huffington Post Live, The Katie Couric Show, and Larry King Live to discuss women in sports, football, and violence prevention.

 She has been featured in various magazines and newspapers including TIME, Sports Illustrated, Glamour, People, Marie Claire, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. In 2006, Katie’s first book, Still Kicking, was published by Scribner.