POINT CLEAR, Ala. – Interactive conversations and intriguing discussions highlighted the theme of the Sun Belt Conference's first Diversity and Inclusion Summit.
 
The culminating event of the conference's four-day Spring Meeting held in Point Clear, Ala., the Summit explored the topics of diversity and inclusion in interactive sessions involving university Chief Diversity Officers, Directors of Athletics, Faculty Athletic Representatives, Senior Woman Administrators and head coaches and student-athletes present from all 12 member schools.
 
"I thought the Summit was terrific and that it was a great way to educate and hold discussion on these important topics," said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. "Anytime that you have an opportunity to have so many decision makers from campus in the same room and begin a conversation about the value and importance of diversity and inclusion, that's great. It is important for us to use this information going forward."
 
From the keynote address from NCAA Executive Vice President Dr. Katrice A. Albert to the interactive exercises led by Kim Miller and Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh with the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) to the six-person panel discussion, the Summit engaged in dialogue on where diversity and inclusion stand from the national perspective and within the conference. Sun Belt-specific data and information shaped the discussion among the attendees that shared best practices and explored initial solutions and strategies to put the Sun Belt in the forefront of the goal to achieve inclusion excellence.
 
"Clearly, we've got to make sure this is not a one-time deal," Gill added. "We need to find opportunities to create policies within the Sun Belt that will help us track diversity so we have a baseline and we understand where we're headed. Then we also need to create policies that will help us increase those numbers and help us move forward with our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion."