When Barb Lindman was growing up in the early 1960s, opportunities did not exist for girls to compete in sports. It wasn’t until she got to Bethel College that she was able to play sports and, after discovering her love of competing and athletics, Lindman spent her life making sure girls and women would have more opportunities than she did.

When she got to Bethel in 1964, Lindman was one of the members of the newly formed women’s basketball team, and her senior year she joined the field hockey team. After graduating in 1968, she went to the University of Minnesota for a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, and then a Master’s degree in Physical Education and Educational Psychology, and nearly 20 years later a Ph.D. in Educational Administration.

While finishing her studies, Lindman joined the faculty at Northwestern College in St. Paul, and helped open the doors of the newly established physical education department. She brought three varsity women’s sports to campus in volleyball, basketball and softball, and was the first head coach of all three programs.

Lindman served many roles while a part of the faculty at Northwestern, and used each of those roles to continue to build opportunities for women to compete and have a place in collegiate athletics. She was named chair of the physical education department and the Women’s Athletic Director from 1978-84. She was later named Chair of the Department of Education, then Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, and later Dean of Academic Programs and in 2015, she was named the Senior Academic Dean.

In 2012, Lindman was awarded the University of Northwestern’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2015, she was awarded the University of Northwestern Leadership Award, and in 2017, she was inducted into the University of Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame.