Female student-athletes are more likely to graduate college with fewer professional connections than their male counterparts, disadvantaging them before they even start their careers, says Bren Stevens, athletic director for the University of Charleston.

Having made that observation with her own students, Stevens is hoping to connect female student-athletes at the University of Charleston and set them on a path to success that doesn’t necessarily depend on their athletic abilities.

On Tuesday, Stevens opened up the school’s first all-female networking event aimed at connecting student-athletes with some of West Virginia’s most prominent women.

Attended by about 50 junior and senior student-athletes and 30 of West Virginia’s most influential women, the event is the first of what Stevens hopes to be many successful networking opportunities.

With appearances by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.); Millie Marshall, state president of Toyota Manufacturing; Kay Goodwin, cabinet secretary for the state Department of Education and the Arts; and Kanawha Circuit judges Joanna Tabit and Jennifer Bailey, students were able to seek advice from a wealth of professionals.

“We pulled together a great group of women,” Stevens said. “I’m not sure how we were able to get them all here.”

While not everyone Stevens approached was able to attend, she noted that all who were asked expressed support.

“We didn’t receive a single ‘no’ from anyone,” she said. “Some said they had conflicts and couldn’t make it, but they want to come back if we do it again .”

After opening remarks from university President Ed Welch, in which he said the thing that often changes the life of a student is a comment or piece of advice given by a mentor, Captio briefly spoke about her path to success and how forming connections was crucial.

In her first term as West Virginia’s junior senator, Capito has nearly two decades of experience representing West Virginians at the state and U.S. capitols. But her sights weren’t always set on Charleston or Washington.

Graduating with a degree in zoology from Duke University and a masters in education from the University of Virginia, Capito said she originally wanted to work in the medical field, but she eventually found it wasn’t what she wanted to do.

“And that’s OK,” she said, adding that students shouldn’t feel bad for being in a similar situation.

She also spoke about the importance of networking and how it helped her win her first bid for public office when she ran for the House of Delegates in 1996.

“Before that, I was a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

During those formative years, Capito said she formed friendships with “bleacher buddies” she met when attending her children’s sporting events.

Despite coming from a powerful political family and wealthy background, Capito said it was those connections that helped her win her first race — by a small margin — and launch her career in politics.

While they may not have an interest in politics, Stevens said she hoped the event would help her students begin thinking about a professional life after college.

Upon graduating, the vast majority of student-athletes — both male and female — do not go on to play their sport professionally. It’s a sobering reality for most students, but Stevens said it’s one they must be prepared for.

“I know when we talk about athletics, so much of our focus revolves around wins and losses,” she said, adding that she is OK with that. “But, I also believe we have a responsibility to prepare our athletes for life after college.”

She said Tuesday’s event let her female students gain some perspective by talking to others who are still forging their path or have completed their journey.

After Capito spoke to the entire group, students spent time with each mentor in what Stevens called a “speed-dating format,” though she wasn’t sure what to call it.

“I guess we’ll call it speed-networking,” she said.

In addition to politicians, students were able to speak with lawyers, businesswomen, doctors, professors and other entrepreneurs.

“I think it’s important for women to lift up women,” Stevens said. “That’s something I try to live by.”

While she said she was encouraged by what she saw during her visit to the university, Capito said there are still things that hold women back, specifically pay inequity and a lack of representation in engineering and other technical fields.

Capito, who is on a week-long return visit to West Virginia after an eight-day trip to the Middle East, is one of 20 female U.S. Senators.

She said he best advice to female students is to retain flexibility and to seize opportunities when they arise.

“Because you don’t know when doors will open again.”