University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Creates Opportunities for Vaughan-Thomas, Esq.
6/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - As the UConn softball program enters the summer months, it looks to catch up with some of the people who have laid the groundwork to make the team what it is today - reviving its "UConn Softball: Where Are They Now?" feature series to highlight the accomplishments of some of our proud alumni.
Amy Vaughan-Thomas, Esq. continues to thrive after a memorable softball career from 2009-12 at UConn, both on and off the field for the Huskies. A native of Somerset, Mass., Vaughan-Thomas played for four years under Hall of Fame coach Karen Mullins.
Currently the Director of Academic Success at the University of Massachusetts School of Law, Vaughan-Thomas is a licensed attorney in the state of California after graduating from the California Western School of Law - all of this coming after her undergraduate career at UConn.
A catcher and outfielder during her time in Storrs, she is tied for fifth all-time in program history in home runs (19) and tied for eighth in doubles (29). Vaughan-Thomas set a single-season UConn record with 13 homers in her senior campaign, while ranking 13th all-time in RBI (88).
The former UConn slugger was named to the All-Big East Third Team in 2010 and helped the Huskies to a 90-109 overall record, including 33 victories in Big East action, under Mullins' guidance.
In addition to her athletic prowess, Vaughan-Thomas was one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history - earning four-year recognition as an All-Conference Academic All-Star Team and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Team member. In 2010, she was selected as a UConn Club Senior Scholar-Athlete for her dedication to softball and her work in the classroom.
She is married to her husband Devon Thomas, a former UConn men's soccer player in the mid-2000s, and resides in her hometown of Somerset.
Catch up with Amy below by reading her responses, and stay updated on our alums by visiting our "Where Are They Now?" homepage HERE.
Where do you live now?
I live in Somerset, Massachusetts with my husband, Devon Thomas, a former soccer player from the University of Connecticut :)
What was your major at UConn?
I double majored in Political Science & American Studies.
Where do you work? What are your responsibilities?
I work as the Director of Academic Success at the University of Massachusetts School of Law. I am a licensed attorney in the State of California and my primary responsibility as the Director of Academic Success is to assure that all our law students have the best academic support tools handy to help them achieve success in their legal studies.
What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment since graduating from UConn?
My greatest accomplishment since graduating is earning my Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California and passing the California bar exam on my first attempt.
What's your favorite UConn softball memory?
Gosh, there are SO many to choose from, it is really hard to pick just one. My top three favorite memories include (1) defeating the undefeated University of South Florida, (2) pumpkin carving and Christmas parties at Coach Mullins' house and (3) our team dinners at Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse.
How did your time at UConn help you achieve the career you currently have?
I will be forever grateful to the University of Connecticut, specifically: Coach Karen Mullins, Coach Andrea D'Innocenzo, Coach Tory Yamaguchi, Coach Peter Looney and Coach Amanda Kimball for their time, dedication, and support. Each of these coaches worked with me to shape me into the person that I am today, and without them, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend law school. Too often we take for granted those four years, wishing away our time for "what's next" without acknowledging the important role UConn athletics has in morphing each of us into adults. My time at UConn with these coaches taught me the meaning of sacrifice, drive, self-confidence and appreciation, which are the same characteristics I strive to instill in my law students each day of my career.
