In celebration of the
Big 12 Conference Regular Season Championship secured by Arizona Wildcats men's basketball with a 73–57 victory over Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball, we are proud to share this special
encore release of our conversation with University of Arizona Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois.
In this episode, Dean Pollard sits down with Reed-Francois for a timely and inspiring discussion about what it truly means to build a championship culture—one that fuels success on the court while shaping leaders for life. As Arizona celebrates its conference title in its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference, this conversation feels especially relevant, highlighting the intentional leadership, vision, and resilience required to compete at the highest level.
A proud University of Arizona alumna and former student-athlete, Reed-Francois reflects on her journey from rowing at UCLA to her impactful years at the U of A Law School in the ’90s, and ultimately to leading Arizona Athletics. With vivid sports analogies and stories from across her career—including addressing incoming first-year students alongside Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita—she illustrates how athletics and academics intersect to create cohesive, high-performing teams.
As the only woman athletic director in the Big 12, Reed-Francois offers powerful insights on leadership, innovation, and preparing student-athletes for success beyond sports. This encore release celebrates not only a championship season, but the culture and commitment that made it possible.
What is It's an Honor?
Welcome to It’s an Honor, a podcast from the W.A. Franke Honors College. It’s an Honor invites listeners into nuanced conversations that embrace the complexity of the world we inhabit. By examining the areas where ideas rub against each other, guests will engage in bold discussion that fosters understanding, empathy, and growth. Exploring different perspectives enhances our own—it's an honor for us to learn from one another. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the W.A. Franke Honors College.