Alumni of Notable Achievement: Wendy Williams Blackshaw

Wendy Williams Blackshaw (BA '82, Speech Communication) has spent more than two decades positioning the Twin Cities as a world-class destination for major sporting events and tourism. As Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, she helped bring Super Bowl LII to Minneapolis in 2018, drawing more than one million visitors to the city. That success helped catalyze the formation of Minnesota Sports and Events, where Blackshaw has served as President and CEO since 2020. Under her leadership, the Twin Cities have hosted a remarkable roster of high-profile events while generating significant economic impact for the region and state. Beyond the bottom line, Blackshaw has been a dedicated advocate for girls' and women's sports, using her platform to show young athletes that opportunities to compete at the highest levels exist right here in Minnesota. Every day, alumni like Wendy Williams Blackshaw bring their unique talents and passions back to the community that helped shape them, inspiring the next generation of Gophers to chase their own dreams.