ESPN's Jen Lada to speak at Marquette University's Axthelm Lecture

April 5, 2017

MILWAUKEE — ESPN contributor and Marquette alumna Jen Lada will be the featured speaker at Marquette University's 2017 Axthelm Lecture on Tuesday, April 11 at 4 p.m in the Helfaer Theatre.

Lada, contributor to ESPN's digital platforms and to ESPN's College GameDay, has covered important stories for the network, including two Auburn-LSU families coming together through tragedy and a story about former Connecticut quarterback Casey Cochran who suffered 13 concussions while playing football.

Prior to working for ESPN, Lada was an anchor and reporter for two and a half years at CSN Chicago, where she covered the Bears and White Sox. Previously, Lada worked as a reporter and anchor for WITI-TV in Milwaukee and WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill. At WITI, she earned the Best Sportscast 1st Place honor in 2011 from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. Lada has a degree in broadcast and electronic communication from Marquette's Diederich College of Communication.

Marquette Women's Basketball Head Coach and fellow Diederich College of Communication alumna Carolyn Kieger will moderate this event.

The Pete and Bonnie Axthelm Memorial Program was established in 1994 to acknowledge and recognize the life of Pete and his sister Bonnie. The program awards an annual scholarship to an outstanding Marquette journalism student with an expressed interest in sports journalism. Pete worked as a sportswriter and columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek. He created ties to Marquette while working on his book, "The City Game," which covers the glory and tragedy of New York basketball. While writing and researching his book, Axthelm sought the expertise of such Marquette notables as Al McGuire, Pat Smith, and Dean Meminger.

Media wishing to speak to Lada should contact Clare Peterson in the Office of Marketing and Communication at (414) 288-6195, with questions.