What are your responsibilities as associate director of communications-external engagement at the NCAA?
I work regularly on communications initiatives with the NCAA’s Inclusion Education and Community Engagement Office, which houses our inclusion efforts; student-athlete, coach and administrator programs; and another area that will take more shape soon: community engagement. I work with the senior vice president and his staff on various efforts that bridge the NCAA with its membership and other publics as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. I also answer media inquiries from national press and assist with operations of the postgraduate internship program in our division.
What are the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 that you foresee for the NCAA and its member institutions?
Unfortunately, there were some staff reductions and budget cuts that took place throughout COVID. We hope that we’ll start to see some jobs restored and that budgets will rebound. I believe student-athletes became more vocal during COVID with the rising social justice issues and other topics around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) too. I think in the long term, we’ll see more online programs since we know we can be successful implementing them in that way.
With the anniversary of the George Floyd murder just having passed and the recent guilty verdict of that related trial, how will the fallout from all of this the past year impact athletes moving forward?
I think moving forward, athletes will become more vocal about what they want and how to make it happen. Social media continues to be the platform for voices and for pushing change on matters. I think the George Floyd murder shocked everyone because it was taped. Things along those lines have happened over the years to people, but the masses never saw it. You’re seeing more attention to social issues in college athletics with the creation of the athletics diversity and inclusion designation, more chief diversity officers in athletics being named, and a rise in having actual discussions about the importance and benefits of diversity and inclusion. The NCAA has held its annual Inclusion Forum for several years so we have been ahead of recent movements and discussions.
How does diversity come into play in your role?
