Olympic Volleyball Star Leads New Inspire Sonoma Talk

The Inspire Sonoma lecture series at Sonoma State kicks off its Fall 2026 lineup on Tuesday, September 15. Team USA Olympic gold medalist and pro volleyball player Haleigh Washington will take the stage.

Washington grew up with a love for the sport and earned a full scholarship at Penn State, where she played four years of college volleyball. She was named Big Ten freshman of the year in 2014 and later captured two Olympic medals with the U.S. indoor team. After graduating with a philosophy degree, she moved to Italy and found success in domestic and overseas competitions. Since 2020 she helps run LeagueOne Volleyball, the pro indoor league, and now plays for the Los Angeles squad after a season with Salt Lake.

Nader Oweis, the campus police chief, heard about her from a colleague and thought she would click with the community. He said he believes students, staff and local residents will love meeting her and hearing her story. His hope is that her journey can spark inspiration and show what dedication looks like.

The series started three years ago under a different theme and has since broadened to bring in voices from film, tech, politics and more. All talks are free and open to anyone. The event is supported by the university police, ethics center, career office, humanities college and the nearby cities of Rohnert Park and Cotati. Anyone can check the full schedule online and join the conversation.