University of Arizona Women's Athletics and Physical Education papers

In 1920, Ina Gittings joined the faculty at the University and was named the first Director of Physical Education for Women. Prior to 1920, the only college-sponsored activity for women at the University of Arizona was dance. Gittings pioneered the development of the women’s undergraduate physical education program and varsity athletics for women. Both varsity intramural athletics and physical education courses were overseen by Gittings in her role as Director of Physical Education for Women. Under the leadership of Gittings, University of Arizona women were introduced to a variety of intramural sports, including horseback riding, track and field, basketball and archery, among others. Ina Gittings was a lifelong advocate of women’s physical education and athletic competition during a time when women’s athletics was discouraged and perceived as masculinizing women. With her guidance and with the support of University administrators, the University of Arizona saw its intramural athletic program for women increase in size. When Gittings retired in 1955, the University had expanded sponsorship to thirteen varsity sports for female participants.

In 1959, when Mary Pavlich Roby began her career as a Physical Education Instructor, Director of the Women’s Recreation Association, and athletics coach at the University of Arizona, female athletes were participating in only intramural competition. Roby not only served as an athletics administrator at the University of Arizona for 30 years, she helped propel women’s athletics at the University from intramural competition to a well-regarded intercollegiate women’s athletics program.