Her Story
About Allison
Allison Gandlin resides in Staten Island, New York, where she balances her studies at Rutgers University with a distinguished career in flag football. She is completing a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering and working toward a master's in production and manufacturing. Gandlin has played flag football for approximately 10 years at national and international levels, including with Team Agile abroad, and she founded the flag football team at Rutgers, which is entering its second year with aspirations to become a varsity sport. In 2024, she received the NFL Flag Football Player of the Year award, the first time the honor was given and the first NFL award won by a woman. She also serves as a video technology intern with the Rutgers football team. Beyond athletics and academics, Gandlin volunteers with Giants clinics for high school girls, Jets youth sports programs, Unified Sports, and has worked as a paraprofessional supporting elementary students with special needs. She attributes her success to her faith, her mother's guidance, and the self-worth gained through athletic challenges, while emphasizing values of community building, continuous growth, and empowering young women to reject limiting beliefs.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Allison
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say that God gave me the ability to push through hard things, and to want to do hard things. He gave me a mother that really taught me the value of trying to do better, and being better. Understanding when to push yourself and when to not. As an athlete, doing hard workouts pushes you to the point where you didn't know you could do this, and that gives a lot of self-worth.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never believe that you can't do something. We're all capable of so much. Our potential is literally limitless. We limit ourselves by how much we view we can do. It's good to feel awkward because that means your body's trying new things. Never put limiting beliefs on yourself.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being the first in many things, like the first NFL flag football player of the year, first woman to win an NFL award. Not having a vision or seeing where you're supposed to go because no one has stood there before. Having to be creative and have a vision without a path laid out.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being a religious woman, very in tune with a higher power and God. Seeing the world as one whole community. Building community of women who want to be healthy, exercise, lean on each other, and be good influences. Continuous growth, constantly trying to be better.
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