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This story is part of our March 2022 CoSIDA 360 package, to view more stories,
click here.
DEI Fellowship Class off and running
by Laurie Bollig – CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement @LaurieBollig
CoSIDA’s partnership with the
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics has resulted in a program to help educate CoSIDA members on diversity and inclusion issues within college sports and the athletics communications profession.
The comprehensive educational series for select members of CoSIDA is designed to provide insights into diversity and inclusion issues, values and opportunities for communication professionals in college sports. The program will encourage a greater understanding of how those in athletic communications offices at all levels become effective champions for diversity and inclusion in college athletics.
The Class of 2022 includes 16 professionals from diverse backgrounds who have participated in the first two sessions about diversity and inclusion and its place in college athletics as well as places where D&I show up.
Selected by members of the Racial and Social Justice Initiative, the 2022 class includes:
Kelvin Queliz (Brown),
Andrew Roberts (Southwestern Athletic Conference),
Stayson Isobe (Northern Arizona),
Mark Cohen (TCU),
Sarah Finney (Seattle),
Sarah Kirkpatrick (Holy Cross),
Nicole Sasu-Twum (Delaware),
Bridgette Robles (Richmond),
Shelby Hild (Texas A&M),
Zach Lawson (Oregon),
Justin Wilson (Atlantic Coast Conference),
Ryan Davis (Missouri Valley Conference),
Michael Hawkins (Francis Marion),
Emily Dorko (Adelphi),
Shalyn Moore (Elizabeth City State) and
Ashleigh Jones (DePauw).
Several members took time to reflect on what they hope to learn and accomplish as part of the fellowship.
Ashleigh Jones: "I hope to gain specific tools and thought processes to navigate conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion; if I am introducing athletics communications to a less racially diverse group of students, I want to be able to provide them perspective and help them see the importance of inclusivity in posts, writing and coverage."
Michael Hawkins: "My goal through this fellowship is to learn how to better facilitate diversity and inclusion practices on my campus, within our athletic program, and in my profession. As a white male, I want to bring new faces into the mix and be cognizant of the experiences of others, while not maintaining a dominant leadership role and assuming I know how the other faces feel. I want to better infuse justice and equality into all aspects of my life."
Ryan Davis: "In July of 2020, the Missouri Valley Conference kicked off our #OneValley initiative titled 'Mobilizing Voices for Change.' It is my hope that I will gain knowledge on how we can better improve our initiative and continue to champion our student-athletes allowing them to share their own views and foster a climate for change."
Bridgette Robles: "I would like to improve on working across departments in athletics and divisions across campus, better hone my leadership skills among all ages, and especially empower student-athletes. I want to help improve our industry and athletic departments. I feel that representation is vital and I want to be a visible member of the community to help the next generation of communications professionals. I’m 35 and Disney just put out a princess that looks like me. Encanto blew me away. I want a little girl or an undergrad to see me and know that they can do this too, whether it's social, photography, or handling communications for men’s sports."
Stayson Isobe: "I think many people who may be interested in entering the athletic communications profession may feel discouraged that there isn’t room for them, so as a minority, I hope to learn how I can be a better advocate for other minorities that we, as a collective unit, not only accept but embrace diversity and inclusion."
Mark Cohen: "The CoSIDA Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program is a valuable tool in helping me grow as a communications professional with how many different constituents you encounter when working in collegiate athletics, in particular the student-athletes we serve."
Zach Lawson: "One of the things I’m most looking forward to as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program is having on-going discussions that help us learn from each other’s various experiences while generating ideas that we can help implement at our individual institutions."
Kelvin Queliz: "It’s being intentional about providing an inclusive work environment. That’s what I strive to do as a leader. As Marco Bizzarri said, 'Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.'"
Learning Objectives for the Fellowship
- Where We Are: A broad-based introduction and overview of issues, concerns and opportunities regarding diversity and inclusion in college athletics.
- Leadership: Learn how to be an agent of change. Instruction on how to step forward in your athletics department or conference office and promote programs and priorities that focus attention and provide solutions for issues that impact student-athletes, staff and the profession.
- Mentorship: Develop an understanding of the values of mentorship with staff and student-athletes in your athletics department and with colleagues in the profession.
- Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: Training to help better understand fundamental strategies and policies that enhance and shape diverse hiring practices for the profession.
- Empower Student-Athletes: Insights into ways athletics communication offices can play a meaningful role in guiding student-athletes into understanding how they can use their voices and platforms to bring attention to issues related to diversity.
Read more about the fellowship here.
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