Emma Dermody
Emma’s winning play with Lincoln.
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Explore our programmesFrom playing on fields in the southernmost corner of the South Island’s Catlins to the tackles of professional rugby and a career in sports development, Emma Dermody’s academic pathway highlights Lincoln University’s knack for turning passion into profession.
Growing up on a farm and being an avid sports enthusiast, Emma sought a university that could cater to both her interests. For this reason, Lincoln stood out.
“Lincoln was a perfect fit for me,” Emma recalls. “It attracted like-minded people who shared my passions, and the high post-graduation employment rate was a bonus!”
Studying for a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management, majoring in Event Management, Lincoln was the hub for all her needs, from her home in the halls to the training ground and lecture rooms.
"Being on a sports scholarship meant a lot of training, and having the gym and fields right next to where we studied made it easy to balance the two," she says.
Upon graduating, Emma seamlessly transitioned into professional rugby, signing a contract with the Matatū Super Rugby Team.
"It felt like I hadn’t left the university yet since our team's base was at Lincoln," she says. This allowed her the ideal situation to stay connected with her still-studying friends and maintain a familiar routine while progressing her career.
Today, Emma continues to play for Matatū while also working as the Women and Girls Game Developer for Canterbury Rugby. In this role, she is dedicated to promoting and growing women's rugby across the Canterbury region.
"Working in rugby right after my Super Rugby season was a dream come true," she shares. “It’s also really rewarding to be a role model and show girls that there is a way forward with the sport, which I didn’t have as much growing up.”
Canterbury had a 10 per cent increase in girls playing last year and Emma aims to contribute to that happening again this year, with her focus on providing more pathways.
As for her own opportunities, her goal is to be a Black Fern one day, which, if her success and hard work so far are anything to go by, there’s no reason she won’t don the black very soon.
The university takes pride in shaping futures that are as impactful as they are varied. Emma mentions how enjoyable her Lincoln student experience was in allowing for so many areas of growth.
“My course had such a wide range of options to choose from and extend my knowledge,” she recalls. “I got to know my classmates and lecturers through smaller classes, which opened the floor to great discussions and pulled more knowledge from a room.”
Her degree also included getting out of the classroom and into internship positions, which Emma suggests was the icing on the cake for her current employment.
“The practical experience on top of everything else opened a lot of doors,” she says. “Since graduating, I haven’t heard of anyone who hasn’t been able to get a job.”
Emma continues to grow and succeed with her current mahi, intending to “create opportunities and help people become the best versions of themselves,” as she strives to do so herself.