Beyond The Game 2023 Panelists
Beyond The Game 2023 Panelists
Marysol Castro ’00JRN
Moderator
Marysol Castro has spent the last two decades challenging the TV news status quo as a journalist and host. From her humble beginnings in 2000 at News 12 The Bronx, to WPIX-TV in NYC, Castro honed her ability to think and act quickly in front of the nation’s most difficult viewers: New Yorkers. Castro would go on to anchor the weather on the national stage at Good Morning America and then CBS’ The Early Show.
Her personal passion and love of sports combined with her lyrical savvy in front of the camera caught the eye of ESPN - landing her a role as Host and Sideline Reporter for the Little League World Series, Invictus Games and Premier Boxing Champions. Castro recently made history by becoming the first Public Address Announcer for the New York Mets. This new calling would also make her the first Latina Public Address Announcer in the entire MLB.
Her uncanny ability to find and tell the most compelling stories also allowed her to expand her career to include public speaking, content production, and editing. Castro frequently travels the country to speak about her life experiences, moderate panels, and coach clients on how to tell the best stories about their brands - enter Marysol Castro Media (MCM).
Sherrie Deans '98CC
Panelist
As the former Executive Director for the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation, Sherrie Deans led the philanthropic efforts of the Union and supported the individual efforts of the 450 NBA players that make up its membership. She launched a philanthropic certificate program specifically for NBA players at UCLA and serves on the Board of Governors at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In May 2020, when COVID-19 upended the NBA's 2019-2020 season, and the nation was grappling with the racial turmoil that was sparked by the killing of George Floyd, Sherrie was appointed COO of the NBPA to help navigate the Union through the pandemic and coordinate its efforts to resume the season while addressing the social justice issues of the time.
She started her non-profit career as Executive Director of the Admiral Center at Living Cities. This initiative sought to build spaces for traditional philanthropies to engage and collaborate with celebrities in meaningful and catalytic work on behalf of low-income people.
Sherrie founded Intentional Group in 2022 to leverage her experience, networks, and insights to help others design and implement more sustainable and impactful solutions.
Sherrie holds a B.A. in economics and political science from Columbia University. She currently lives in the Bronx with her husband of 20 years and two sons.
Erinn Smart ’01
Panelist
Erinn Smart began her fencing career in NYC at the age of 11 with the Peter Westbrook Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses fencing to enrich the lives of young people from underserved communities.
Erinn's fencing career spanned two decades and included five US National Championship titles, two-time All-American for Columbia University and a two-time Olympian. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Erinn became the first African American woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport of fencing, where she won the silver medal for the U.S. women’s foil team.
Erinn retired after the Beijing Olympics to focus on her professional career, volunteering and mentoring fencers pursuing their Olympic dreams. Erinn graduated from Barnard College in 2001 as an Economics History major and in 2013 she earned an MBA from the Wharton School. She has held senior leadership roles for finance, tech and media companies, including Lord Abbett, IAC and Hearst.
Amy Weeks
Panelist
Amy Weeks is in her ninth year as head coach of Columbia’s women’s golf program in 2022-23, with over 25 combined years as both an NCAA Division I collegiate golf coach, NCAA Division I athletics administrator and standout collegiate golfer. The former Oklahoma State Head Women’s Golf Coach and Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Weeks joined the Columbia women's golf program as a volunteer assistant coach in October of 2011 and was later named Head Women’s Golf Coach in August 2014.
An Abilene, Texas native and Wylie High School graduate, Weeks earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural and historical geography from Oklahoma State in 1998. As a collegiate player in the mid-1990s, Weeks was a dominant figure for the Oklahoma State women's golf program. She captured the 1995 Big Eight individual championship while leading the Cowgirls to the team title and was a member of three Big Eight championship teams. She concluded her career with two top-5 and four top-10 individual finishes. Prior to her move to New York, Weeks had served as the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Oklahoma State for seven years.