Valorie Kondos Field, the former head coach of the seven-time NCAA champion UCLA Bruins gymnastics program, will be the keynote speaker at this spring's College of Education and Health Professions commencement ceremony.

"Miss Val," as she is affectionately known by the athletes she coached, will share her life lessons and insights with the more than 700 graduates who will gather for their 12:30 p.m. commencement on Saturday, May 10, at Bud Walton Arena.

Dean Kate Mamiseishvili's leadership approach has been inspired by University of Arkansas coaches and other sports leaders this academic year, so Kondos Field was a fitting speaker for the college's commencement.

"Miss Val is a bold visionary who dreams big and inspires those around her to do the same," Mamiseishvili said. "I know our graduates will enjoy hearing from such an enthusiastic and accomplished coach."

Kondos Field also has an Arkansas connection. Her husband, Bobby Field, a former UCLA football coach and administrator, played for the Razorbacks football team. A starter in the defensive backfield, he was nicknamed "the monster man" for his performance in the famous 1969 "Big Shootout" game against Texas.

Kondos Field was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, an honor she shares with her husband. They are the first married Hall of Fame duo in UCLA Athletics history.

In addition to Kondos Field's seven NCAA championship wins, she was named National Coach of the Year four times. In 2019, she received the UCLA Professional Achievement Award for her superior achievements in the field.

In the book Life is Short, Don't Wait to Dance, Kondos Field shares the many lessons she learned throughout her legendary coaching career. She has also shared her leadership lessons with College of Education and Health Professions students. Kondos Field and University Professor Emeritus Ro Di Brezzo taught the college's fall 2024 Dean's Seminar, Leadership in Coaching: Lessons from Lincoln to Lasso.

The University of Arkansas will livestream all commencement ceremonies on the U of A YouTube channel.

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About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a wide range of careers in education and health, including teaching, nursing, counseling, educational leadership and policy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, public health, exercise science, and many more. The college has approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serves more than 6,000 students, and supports over 20 research and service units. Guided by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research that improves people's lives, increase transformative learning opportunities for its students, engage in meaningful partnerships across Arkansas and beyond, and embrace a culture of caring that empowers people to thrive in all aspects of life.