BOSTON – The America East Conference formally announced today the members of its Spread Respect Advisory Group, which will address systemic racial injustice and inequality and its direct impact on those within the conference.
"Our conference, from the top down, remains fully committed to being an industry leader by raising awareness and providing education around discrimination, social justice, diversity and inclusion," said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. "The formation of the America East Spread Advisory Group will advance our progress in this area by bringing stakeholders from each of our campuses together to recommend actionable steps towards ending systemic racism within the conference and beyond."
The Advisory Group, which was conceptualized and announced in July, consists of 33 members and spans the entire spectrum of the conference including presidents, campus diversity, equity and inclusion personnel, faculty members, athletics directors, senior athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes and alumni.
"Our student athletes are leaders in their classrooms, universities, and communities," said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. "As a special advisor to the Spread Respect Advisory Group, I look forward to supporting our conference as it leads by example and works to inspire long-term change,"
"To be thought of and selected by the America East as a student-athlete representative on this important Advisory Group is a great honor," said NJIT men's basketball student-athlete
Xavier Mayo. "I am excited to begin working with my fellow members and will do everything in my power to help further the Spread Respect mission across the conference and fight for racial equality and respect."
Utilizing the foundation of the conference's longstanding Spread Respect initiative, the Advisory Group will develop actionable recommendations that will ensure sustained long-term impact in combating racism and racial inequality across the conference and for its members institutions. America East's Spread Respect initiative raises awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
America East is steadfast in its commitment to ending racial inequality. For nearly a decade, America East has been a leader within college athletics in raising awareness and providing education in the areas of diversity and inclusion.The conference has taken several actionable steps towards combating discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religion, including making Nov. 3, 2020, Election Day, a mandatory day off from athletic activities.
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here to learn more about America East's Spread Respect initiative.
NJIT Associate Vice President / Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan on being selected to the Spread Respect Advisory Group: When I was invited to join the Spread Respect Advisory Group, I welcomed the opportunity. The America East Conference has always been a leader in raising awareness and providing educational opportunities in the area of diversity and inclusion. With what is currently happening in our country, this committee is a necessary step in helping to end injustices that exist.
NJIT Women's Basketball Assistant Coach LaTonya Watson on being selected to the Spread Respect Advisory Group: "It is an honor and a privilege to be part of the America East Conference Spread Respect Advisory Group (SRAG). I'm extremely grateful to our athletic administration at NJIT for their support of me in this endeavor. With our country battling two pandemics (COVID-19 and social/racial injustice) at the same time, I want to be part of the solution in combating racism and racial inequality through social awareness and change. SRAG gives me the opportunity to serve the universities and athletic communities in the America East in this way."
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field. For more information, visit
www.AmericaEast.com or follow the America East Conference on Twitter @AmericaEast.
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