INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Atlantic 10 will be represented by seven student-athletes as well as a variety of staff members from across the league's membership at the 11th-annual NCAA Inclusion Forum over the weekend, set for April 21-23 in Indianapolis.
Per the NCAA, 'the forum will bring together leaders within higher education and intercollegiate athletics, including student-athletes, to engage in powerful programming and provide key takeaways to enhance efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives. Educational programming will focus on each of the office of inclusion's five core areas of disability, international, LGBTQ, race/ethnicity and women.'
The three keynote speakers include: Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of 'Just Mercy'; Dr. Harry Edwards, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, civic activist and author; and Emily Ladau, a disability activist, writer and speaker.
The A-10 will be represented by four student-athletes from George Mason –
Malik Henry (men's basketball),
Sonia Smith (women's basketball),
Shawn Nonaka (wrestling) and
Jester Hutchinson (cheer) – along with three more from Dayton –
Laney Yates (volleyball),
Saija Cleveland (women's basketball) and
Sean Banks (football).
Select student-athlertes will participate in an Instagram takeover of the official A-10 account throughout the forum.
Click here to see the A-10 Instagram account.
Additionally, a total of 11 university and athletic department representatives from seven different conference institutions will be attending the forum as well:
- Krystal Warren, Associate AD of Student Development and Community Engagement, Dayton
- Dr. Verb Washington, Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Dayton
- Oliver Ferguson, Assistant Director for Inclusive Excellence Initiatives, ODI, Dayton
- Makini Thompson, Senior Executive Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare & Competitive Excellence/SWA, Fordham
- Cheryl Hunte, Senior Academic Coordinator, George Mason
- Mark LaFrance, Associate AD, Digital Media and Marketing, George Mason
- Danya Ellman, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations/SWA, George Washington
- Lauren Trapasso, Academics/Learning Enhancement, Massachusetts
- Maria Vega, SA Development, Massachusetts
- Jeff Johnson, Associate AD, Student-Athlete Development and Inclusive Excellence, Rhode Island
- Janet Oberle, Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA, Saint Louis
The forum also provided a screening of The Loyola Project, a 2022 documentary about the 1963 Loyola Chicago Ramblers men's basketball team and the historic "Game of Change."
The NCAA has demonstrated consistent dedication to promoting inclusion and diversity within its membership, and offers educational and programming opportunities such as the 2023 Inclusion Forum annually to continue fostering a national environment aimed at supporting equitable laws and practices.
The NCAA considers equity and inclusion a 'core value,' and 'believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. We seek to establish and maintain an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds. Diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment for all student-athletes and enhance excellence within the Association.'