Hall of Fame
As a Norwich student. Portia Babcock distinguished herself on the soccer and rugby fields as well as academically. replacing field hockey, the Women's Soccer program was started in 1985 and she served as the captain for its first two years. Babcosk's accomplishments on the soccer field included being voted the Best Defensive Player and Most Inspirational Player. She was voted by CoSIDA as an Academic All-American, and was the first Norwich woman to receive the honor.
Stephen Looke, her soccer coach, recalls "Portia was the ideal captain for a fledgling women's soccer program; she was mature, focused and determined. Additionally, she had a clear vision of what she wanted to accomplish and a complete plan of how she was getting there."
Babcock was also named to the Good Housekeeping "100 Outstanding Women College Graduates" in July 1987. Her academic excellence earned her many honors at Norwich including as a Rhodes Scholar Nominee. Babcock received a BA in Government with a 3.96 grade average.
Her father, a university professor and mountaineering guide, instilled a love of outdoor travel in Babcock. She recalls fondly the adventure of growing up in Alaska including a Mount McKinley climb with her sister and father during which she turned 19. Her outdoor passions make her a member of the Alaska Outdoor Council, the National Rifle Association, and Resource Development Council for Alaska.
Babcock lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She spent four years as the Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections. In 2006, she moved on to her present position as Chief of Staff for the Office on the Senate President in the Alaska State Legislature. Babcock says "I love my job because it is challenging, constantly changing, and I feel like I am making a difference - it is very rewarding." She serves as a principal policy and strategic advisor to the Senate President and is responsible for supervision and management of office staff, as well as media and public relations.
