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NJCAA announces Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Region Ambassadors
Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA has announced 39 individuals from the membership that have been selected as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Region Ambassadors. These ambassadors will actively collaborate with the NJCAA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council and the Racial Equality Subcommittee to promote and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within the NJCAA.
Ambassadors will develop a working framework to form the inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Region Committees and lead their respective regions in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives. Region Ambassadors will set the foundation for Region Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committees to make an impact on the regional and national level while placing an intentional focus on educating, empowering, and engaging NJCAA student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and administrators.
"We're excited to expand our EDI members who will bring diverse expertise, insight, and energy into furthering our mission. The Region Ambassadors are comprised of a dedicated team of leaders committed to promote and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion with an intentional focus to educate, empower and engage our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic directors," stated Kerri-Ann McTiernan, NJCAA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council Chair.
Along with the NJCAA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council, the Racial Equality Subcommittee, the NJCAA Esports Equity and Inclusion Committee, and select NJCAA staff, the newly appointed Region Ambassadors will take part in training with RISE, a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. The 90-minute virtual workshop will focus on a discussion about anti-racism, its importance, and the application of a framework that can guide the NJCAA and NJCAAE to become more inclusive.
Participants will consider their definition of anti-racism and discuss that with their peers while simultaneously considering the application of those definitions to the work that the organization needs to do to cultivate a more inclusive climate. Trained RISE facilitators will lead the session and discussion. In December 2020, the NJCAA announced a partnership with RISE to provide educational programming to the association's members.
For more information, visit: NJCAA Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Council
NJCAA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Region Ambassadors
| Region | Ambassador | Member College |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Steward | Tohono O'odham (AZ) |
| 1 | Victor Solis | Paradise Valley (AZ) |
| 2 | Jordan Hunter | North Arkansas |
| 3 | Samantha Boccacino | Finger Lakes (NY) |
| 3 | Shaun Church | Monroe CC (NY) |
| 3 | Jeoffrey York | Hudson Valley (NY) |
| 4 | Sherese Parker | Kennedy King (IL) |
| 4 | Brian Johnson | DuPage (IL) |
| 5 | Greg Sommers | Dallas College - North Lake (TX) |
| 6 | Enoch Smith | Highland (KS) |
| 6 | Michael Cook | Fort Scott (KS) |
| 7 | Blythe Gordon | Chattanooga State (TN) |
| 7 | Otis Key | Volunteer State (TN) |
| 8 | Ginny Alexander | Florida State - Jacksonville |
| 9 | Janelle Higgins | North Platte (NE) |
| 10 | Shannon Yates | Fayetteville Tech (NC) |
| 10 | Gene Banks | Gaston (NC) |
| 11 | Bryan Austin | Southwestern (IA) |
| 11 | Dan Gratz | North Iowa Area |
| 12 | Dionne McCollum | Delta (MI) |
| 12 | Rochelle Taylor | Henry Ford (MI) |
| 12 | Jeff Price | Sinclair (OH) |
| 13 | Jessica Pelzel | Anoka-Ramsey (MN) |
| 13 | Jordan Burton | North Dakota SCS |
| 14 | Trenia Hoard | Tyler (TX) |
| 15 | Matthew Ruiz | Fashion IT (NY) |
| 15 | Neftali Collazo | Suffolk (NY) |
| 16 | Hana Haden | Moberly Area (MO) |
| 18 | Zac Erekson | Snow (UT) |
| 19 | Keirq Livingston | Mercer County (NJ) |
| 19 | Sara Steinman | Delaware County |
| 20 | Erin Foley | Howard (MD) |
| 20 | Duane Herr | Anne Arundel (MD) |
| 21 | Fielding Vaughn | Massbay (MA) |
| 21 | Jelani Townsell | Roxbury (MA) |
| 22 | Cara Crosslin | Shelton State (AL) |
| 22 | Chad Balentine | Marion Military (AL) |
| 23 | Rodney Ellis | Southern Shreveport (LA) |
| 24 | Brad Hoyt | John Wood (IL) |
| 24 | Lesley Frederick | Lincoln Land (IL) |
