October Heffner
I'm October Heffner, a Communication scholar transitioning to the University of Texas Austin to pursue my PhD. My work focuses on gender, sports, and popular culture, offering unique perspectives on gendered athletic spaces and the influence of gender dominance on culture and space. This website features both my academic and athletic portfolios.
About Me
As a Communication scholar, I leverage nearly 15 years of invaluable hands-on experience in single-gender sports to provide definitive insights into the nexus of gender, sports, and popular culture. I am committed to shaping the academic discourse on gendered athletic spaces and the pervasive influence of gender dominance on culture and space in athletics.
Experience
Rhetorical Communication Scholar
Engaged in extensive research and practical experience in single-gender sport spaces, gaining valuable insights into the dynamics of gendered athletic spaces and the impact of gender dominance in sports culture.
Football Operations & Recruitment Powerhouse
Led cross-functional teams to successfully launch multiple projects. Oversaw project timelines, teams, and resources to ensure timely and quality success of Division III team.
Being an Equestrian
Built strong relationships with clients, providing exceptional service and support. Acted as a primary point of contact for client inquiries and project updates. Working at a national level, October has built a coaching methodology that breeds success for both rider and horse
Education
University of Texas
Communication PhD
May, 2029
Baylor University
Communication M.A.
May, 2025
Lake Forest College
Communication, Politics B.A.
Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Minor
May, 2023
Portfolio Highlights
Key Contributions
Insights on Gender Dominance
Influence on Culture and Space
My academic and athletic portfolio showcases my commitment to providing unique perspectives on gendered athletic spaces and the influence of gender dominance on culture and space in athletics. I have received recognition for my valuable insights and contributions to the field.
Football as a Location for
Gendered Negotiations
By providing research to coaches and players with implications, football can become an arena for every person to enjoy, reguardless of identity.
With American football becoming more inclusive to women, both as fans and participants at all levels, negotiations of how to support an existing culture while expanding the market to women is a critical question in my research and work experience.
Popular Culture Reflecting the Social Construction of Gender & Sexuality
Media and real life impact each other in a circular relationship, proving the value of creating change in representation both in media and in daily life.
Popular culture media like television, social media, and movies directly impact people's social construction of the world as it relates to gender and sexuality. With media that is more inclusive to all genders and sexualities when discussing athletics, there is hope for the rhetorical communication of real inclusivity.
Football Team Collaboration
Working directly with teams to impliment change for the benefit of football culture.
By working directly with student-athletes and coaches, particularly in the football industry, Heffner refuses to hide behind research but instead ensures the bridging between academia and athletics occurs.
Leadership Excellence
Guiding, mentoring, and sharing research results is critical to real change.
Having mentored many student workers in her undergraduate work with football teams, October affirms the values of sharing information, learning from others, and creating meaningful relationships in order to foster healthy athletic work cultures.
Community Engagement
Giving back and pouring compassion into every community I encounter is a core value of Heffner.
As a person who has been blessed with amazing mentors, resources, and blessings beyond imagination, Heffner firmly believes in giving back to her community as a hippo-therapy volunteer, supporter of military families through the USO, and registered bone marrow donor.
