Creative Writing MFA Graduate Kathryn Bertine is SBS's Alumna of the Year

Feb. 1, 2023
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Kathryn Bertine

The University of Arizona will confer Alumni of the Year awards on 15 accomplished graduates on Feb. 3 in recognition of their achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism and service to students, the colleges and the university.

The College of Social and Behavioral Science's Alumna of the Year is Kathryn Bertine. Bertine earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona in 2000 and is an author, filmmaker, athlete, CEO, and champion for gender equity in sports through her Tucson-based Homestretch Foundation. The foundation assists low-income female professional athletes with free housing, lessons in activism for eradicating salary inequality, and post-athletics career opportunities. Thanks in large part to Bertine’s advocacy, the first complete Tour de France for women in 33 years was held in 2022. As a professional cyclist, Bertine won six national championships and three Caribbean Champion awards. She also uses her nonfiction writing — including four books as well as regular columns for ESPN and espnW — and documentary filmmaking to raise awareness of gender-based obstacles and inequities. Her feature documentary, “Half the Road: The Passion, Pitfalls and Power of Women’s Professional Cycling,” garnered numerous film festival awards and theater screenings.

You can learn more about Bertine in the article "Not Equal Until It's Equal."