NY Times Bestselling Author, First Woman Inducted into National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Hall of Fame Speaks at UCM Feb. 21

A  sports  writer and broadcaster who has received many national accolades for her work, Sally Jenkins, will speak at the University of Central Missouri.
(Photo by Nicole Bengiveno)                    

WARRENSBURG, MO – Sally Jenkins, a four-time New York Times bestselling author who most recently wrote “The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life,” will present an author talk at the University of Central Missouri Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Her presentation is free and open to the public and will take place in Nahm Auditorium in the W.C. Morris Science Building. She will be available for a book signing following her remarks.

Jenkins’ visit is part of an effort by the Division of Academic Affairs to bring nationally known guest speakers to campus to share their perspectives on different topics and issues that appeal to diverse audiences. Individuals who attend her campus presentation have an opportunity to hear from an individual who for 20 years has been a celebrated and influential columnist and feature writer for “The Washington Post,” as well as the author of 12 books, and recipient of accolades that include being the first woman inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Hall of Fame.

Among her books was the inspirational work, “The Real All Americans,” in which she shares the history of the Carlisle Indian School football team, led by U.S. Olympian Jim Thorpe and known for its trick-play offenses. She also co-authored the No. 1 bestseller “Sum It Up” with legendary basketball coach, Pat Summit, who won eight national collegiate championships.

Jenkins’ book, “The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life,” was released in June 2023. In this work she discusses actionable principles of excellence which she derived from interviews with some of the world’s best athletes. She details  qualities she discovered that are consistent among these highly successful athletes, which she believes other individuals can cultivate into their own lives.

In 2019, Jenkins was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for a well-known work on sport as a reflection of society. Never one to shy away from covering difficult subjects, she has written about the good and the bad in sports, including topics that made national headlines, ranging from a child predator case involving a famous college coach to exposing abuse of Olympic gold medalists. Some works are more affectionate and focus on dynamic sports figures such as Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning and Michael Phelps, just to name a few.

Before she began writing for “The Washington Post,” Jenkins was a senior writer for “Sports Illustrated.” Her articles have also appeared in high-profile publications that include “GQ,” “Smithsonian Magazine,” “ESPN Magazine” and “Vanity Fair,” and she is a six-time winner of the Associated Press Sports Columnist of the Year Award.

Jenkins currently resides in New York. She is a sought-after speaker who shares her knowledge of people and events that shape individuals’ views of sport and its role in society.