Coaches in the NDSU volleyball program are scheduled to be recognized with the university’s Advancing Inclusion Award. An award presentation is set for Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Union’s Prairie Rose room.
The volleyball coaching staff includes head coach Jennifer Lopez and assistant coaches Drew Davis and Kelly Lopez.
“The volleyball coaches were selected not only for their commitment to creating an inclusive environment but also for their commitment to educating those in their program on the importance of understanding how being inclusive and valuing diversity affect everyone’s well-being and mental health,” said Julie Nash, Excellence Programs manager in the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Equity. “Their intentional effort toward instilling a diverse and inclusive perspective with their team spills over into how they interact with others on campus, the fans, and our community as a whole.”
The Advancing Inclusion Award is presented annually to an NDSU department, committee, group or unit that has worked to promote an inclusive culture by contributing to the overall environment of the community or university.
The honor recognizes these specific areas:
• Institutional Commitment- Creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe.
• Learning and Pedagogy - Developing learning environments and curricula that guide critical thinking about issues of equity.
• Research and Creative Activity - Engaging in research and/or creative activity that engages multiple perspectives or a diversity of people in all parts of the process.
• Recruitment and Retention of Historically Underrepresented Students, Faculty and Staff - Increasing and retaining historically underrepresented populations among faculty, staff, students and administrators.
• Inter-group and Intra-group Relations - Celebrating human diversity and recognizing socially constructed differences through initiatives that encourage continuing interaction of diverse cultures.
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