BE the Change is the BIG EAST Conference's strategic platform to educate, engage and lead in social impact and inclusion. As part of our strategic commitment, individuals are encouraged to enhance their personal awareness and be active participants to ending racism and other forms of social injustice.
The BIG EAST Conference's Social Impact and Inclusion working group has been tasked with examining the current diversity environment in intercollegiate athletics and creating a strategic roadmap for the Conference's Presidents and Athletics Directors. The working group will review policies, initiatives and best practices among BIG EAST member institutions and other athletics conferences and develop strategies designed to enhance the athletics-related efforts already underway on BIG EAST campuses.
The Social Impact and Inclusion working group roster represents a broad cross-section of athletics department and university personnel from all 11 BIG EAST schools and includes the following:
Sonya Hopkins, Associate Athletic Director / Academics, Butler University
Kevin Freeman, Associate Director of Athletics / Executive Director of the National C Club, University of Connecticut
Marcus Blossom, McCormick Endowed Athletic Director, Creighton University
Len Gordy, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Creighton University
Dania Matos, Vice President of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, DePaul University
Jill Hollembeak, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sports Administration/SWA, DePaul University
Rosemary Kilkenny, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, Georgetown University
Adrienne Ridgeway, Executive Associate Athletic Director, Academic Services & Student Programs, Marquette University
TBD, Providence College
Nancy Kaplan, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, St. John's University
Eric Rienecker, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, St. John's University
Rachel Pereira, Vice President, Equity and Inclusion, St. John's University
Nicole Guadenzi, Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development & Leadership, Seton Hall University
Majid Whitney, Associate Vice President and Dean of Campus Inclusion and Community, Seton Hall University
Leashia Lewis, Assistant Athletic Director / Director of UNITAS, Villanova University
Eryca Bennett, Director of Student-Athlete Development, Villanova University
Susan Lipnickey, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Resources/SWA, Xavier University
The working group will also include representation from the BIG EAST Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.