Born in 1932, Jenepher Shillingford spent much of her life involved in amateur athletics. She enjoyed an outstanding career in women’s sports as a player, coach, administrator and umpire/referee.

She matriculated at Ursinus College where she was a member of the field hockey, basketball, badminton, tennis and softball teams. Her playing career culminated in being selected to the All-Philadelphia Field Hockey Team in 1955 and the United States Field Hockey Team from 1955-1957.

Jennepher’s involvement in Chester County sports occurred as Assistant Athletic Director at Immaculata College (1961-1976), where she had a positive effect on hundreds of young women’s lives including the Immaculata’s championship basketball teams in 1972, 1973 and 1974. She left Immaculata to join Bryn Mawr College as coach, Director of Physical Education, and Athletic Director.

Shillingford earned national status as an umpire/referee in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. She also had the distinction of being chosen to be an official in many international field hockey matches. In addition to authoring numerous coaching manuals and articles, she was widely recognized for her expertise and promotion of women’s athletics.

Her service to athletics included President (1993-2000) and Secretary (2002-2010) of the United States Field Hockey Association, serving on the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee (2001-2003), and a member of the NCAA Council (1988-1991).

Jen’s honors include being named an Honorary Member of the Field Hockey Hall of Fame (1974), receiving the Katherine Ley Award for Contributions to Women’s Athletics (1992), and being inducted into the SE Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1997), Ursinus College Hall of Fame (2002) and the NACWAA Lifetime Achievement Award (2003).