JWU's Emily DeRoehn Named GNAC Athlete Of The Year For Women's Sports

Winthrop, Mass. - Johnson & Wales Women's Soccer Student-Athlete Emily DeRoehn was named the 2024-25 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Athlete Of The Year for women’s sports on Friday (July 18) afternoon by the conference office. This award mirrors the NCAA Woman Of The Year guidelines in which it recognizes graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

She will be honored at the 2025 GNAC Professional Development Seminar held at Emmanuel College on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

DeRoehn was selected amongst 13 outstanding candidates throughout the conference, excelling both on the field and in the classroom.

She graduated from JWU with a 4.0 GPA, majoring in Media & Communications Studies while earning a spot on the GNAC All-Academic Team three times in her four-year career and once on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. She was just as excellent on the pitch as she was the defensive anchor to a JWU team that went to the NCAA Tournament three times in her career, giving her three GNAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, placing herself on the First Team All-Conference in her whole entire career. DeRoehn was not only named to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region Team three times but she was also named a two-time USC Division III All-American with her most recent honor coming this past season. A four-time GNAC First Team pick (2021-24), the Old Lyme, Connecticut native was the anchor of a defense which held opponents to just 14 goals in 23 matches and posted 16 shutouts last season. DeRoehn finished her career tied for No. 5 in game-winning goals (nine), tied for No. 7 in goals (31), and tied for No. 10 in points (74) in program history. On campus, the two-year team captain was a game operations student assistant for JWU's athletic department and off campus, she was a volunteer assistant coach for the Scorpions Soccer Club, a youth girls soccer club team.

Emily's Personal Statement:

"My time at Johnson & Wales University has gifted me a multitude of valuable experiences—on the field, in the classroom, and in the absence of both sport and school. Entering college, I never expected to reach the level of success I’m now leaving with, and I owe it all to my community at Johnson & Wales.

The soccer field has always been where I felt most confident, and being a part of the team at JWU has changed my life forever. While my initial talent gave me early success, it was my coaches’ belief I was capable of more lit a fire in me I didn’t know I had. As someone who’s naturally quiet, the goals I set for myself—winning championships, becoming an All-American, and growing into a vocal leader worthy of my teammates’ respect—were far outside my comfort zone. But thanks to the support of my coaches and teammates, and my own drive to succeed, I became a better athlete and a better version of myself

This confidence I found on the field eventually translated to the classroom. I’ve always taken pride in my schoolwork, but the Johnson & Wales community encouraged me to be more vocal and involved in unique ways. I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned induction into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society, and was named an Academic All-American. More than that, I’ve had the chance to participate in two direct experiential education courses, gaining real-world experience by working on a documentary and contributing to a major newspaper.

Thanks to the strong relationships I’ve built with my professors, especially Professor Stoessell, I’ve gained not just skills—but a clearer understanding of who I am. I’ve realized how much I love sports, and how much I love telling stories that matter. With the help of Professor Stoessell and the Boston Globe, I became a published writer, sharing the story of Shannen Pelletier Kennawi—the founder of a nonprofit, semi-professional women’s soccer team committed to building a community that supports and uplifts female athletes. Speaking with Shannen and telling her story inspired me in so many ways. It sparked a desire to give back to the community that’s given me everything—girls’ soccer.

Volunteering with my assistant coach Ryan Gray’s youth teams, I’ve had the opportunity to work with young female players much like myself. Through teaching them the game I love, I hope to help foster their growth, confidence, and passion for a sport that has given me so much.

I am incredibly grateful for my soccer career at Johnson & Wales, and for my entire support system—for showing me that I’m capable of achieving any goal I set. There’s an old saying that “good things come to those who wait,” but my parents have always taught me that’s not true. Good things happen to those who make them happen, and Johnson & Wales has given me every tool I need to make them happen."

 ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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