Ruth Riley to speak at Notre Dame | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Ruth Riley to speak at Notre Dame Ruth Riley to speak at Notre Dame Published: April 01, 2014 Author: Cailean Geary Ruth Riley in Mali Ruth Riley, a 2001 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and star player of the ’01 Irish women’s basketball national championship team, returns to Notre Dame on April 15 (Tuesday) to deliver the talk “From Professional Athlete to Humanitarian: How I Became Involved in the Fight Against Poverty and Disease.” The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Eck Visitor Center Auditorium on the Notre Dame campus. It is one of a series of Discussions on Development hosted by the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity. Riley’s visit is just days before World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25. Riley is active in Nothing But Nets, the U.N. Foundation’s anti-malaria initiative. This grassroots campaign raises both awareness about the malaria crisis in Africa and funding to purchase protective nets. Each net costs only $10. Nothing But Nets works through U.N. Partners and other local and international organizations to distribute the nets. Since its inception in 2006, the campaign has distributed almost 24,000 nets. Riley believes her work as an athlete has given her a unique role as a spokeswoman. “I get to merge a lot of my passions together,” she said. “I get to use the platform of a sport that I love to engage with different groups of people, and unite these groups together and bring a life-saving resource to many grateful families. It is a humbling, emotional and life-changing experience.” In addition to Nothing But Nets, Riley is a supporter of No Kid Hungry and a co-founder of Inspire Transformation, both of which address the healthy development of youth. Following her graduation from Notre Dame, Riley was drafted to the Miami Sol. She continued her WNBA career with the Detroit Shock, San Antonio Silver Stars, Chicago Sky and, currently, Atlanta Dream. She also played for the U.S. women’s basketball team in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games, taking home the gold. Part of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity promotes the interdisciplinary study of international human development, a central focus of the Kellogg Institute, with an innovative mix of research, teaching and community engagement. Contact: Dennis Haraszko, Ford Program associate program director, 574-631-8232, dharasz1@nd.edu Posted In: Athletics Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related September 28, 2022 Notre Dame brings home football experience pageantry to Las Vegas for Shamrock Series September 14, 2022 Football weekend events: Notre Dame vs. California September 07, 2022 Football weekend events: Notre Dame vs. Marshall June 23, 2022 Notre Dame to honor pioneers of Irish women’s athletics April 18, 2022 The Shirt 2022 to be unveiled in person on April 22 For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn