Heisman Runnerup McPherson Talk on Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention
Thursday, April 3
7 p.m. in Grewen Auditorium
The Student Development Office will host former SU quarterback and 1987 Heisman Trophy runnerup Donald McPherson for a talk entitled, “You Throw like a Girl.”
A native of West Hempstead, N.Y., McPherson attended Syracuse University and was a unanimous All-American quarterback and captain of the undefeated 1987 football team. He is also a veteran of the NFL and Canadian Football League.
Upon retiring from pro football in 1994, he joined Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society as national director of Athletes in Service to America, an AmeriCorps funded program. While there, McPherson turned his focus to the issue of men’s violence against women. He became Director of Sport in Society’s Mentors in Violence Prevention Program (MVP) emerging as a national leader and advocate for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence.
McPherson has twice testified before the United States Congress and he has worked closely with the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense and the Pentagon on issues of sexual violence in education and the military, respectively. He has provided commentary on numerous news programs, was featured in O Magazine and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
As a feminist and social activist, McPherson has conducted workshops and lectures on more than 200 college campuses, community organizations and national sports and violence prevention organizations. His programs and lectures have reached more than 1 million people.
McPherson’s speech is a part of several activities at the College planned during April’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
