Gail Marquis '80

Gail Marquis competed at the highest level of international sports. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s Basketball team, which earned a silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Her winning ways were evident at Queens, where she majored in Physical Education. A two-time All-American, she captained her team to post-season competition and national rankings for four straight years. Upon graduating, Gail spent a season with the short-lived Women’s Basketball League before becoming a broadcaster and building a career in financial advisement. She has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the New York Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Gail has fond memories of her time at Queens College. “I grew up in Queens and attended public schools here my whole life,” she explains. “I selected QC for its basketball program—I wanted to play on the best women's team in the area.” The spacious campus impressed her too. “With the Quad and the wide-open spaces with views of New York, it was a real campus setting. I felt like I was going away to college,” she continues.

Gail still raves about the school. “Queens College was a blend of nationalities when I attended in the ’70s,” she recalls. “It was affordable and remains affordable. The campus has gotten even more diverse through not only its student body, but its faculty as well. The faculty is world-renowned and world-class. Plus, Queens College students are offered more opportunities to expand their backgrounds through courses, classroom participation, and travel. Queens remains affordable. It maintains a strong college curriculum.”

 

WHY I GIVE 

Today, Gail remains very involved with her alma mater. “I support Queens College by serving as a Trustee on the Queens College Foundation Board,” she reports. “I also support QC’s athletes, coaches, and support staff. As a U.S. Olympic champion, I realize the great opportunity that I had to learn and compete thanks to Queens College. The athletes work hard. The 19 Division II teams represent a great way for students to develop their leadership skills.”