NEW YORK – Return On Inclusion, which delivers online sport-specific diversity and inclusion education, is pleased to announce its newest partner, Albion College.
Albion, located in Albion, Michigan, is an NCAA Division III institution. The Britons field 24 varsity teams and compete in the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Association.
"Our college remains committed to furthering our efforts to create a community of belonging to better serve our student-athletes," said Senior Associate Athletic Director, Melissa Walton. "We are excited to partner with the team at ROI and look forward to expanding our knowledge base as we strive to support an inclusive environment within Albion Athletics."
"Our athletic department is one who has advocated for our diverse student body to ensure all feel welcomed, and feel they have a home here at Albion," said head swimming and diving coach, Nick Stone. "However, so much more can be done. Therefore, I am excited to begin the Return On Inclusion program with my peers within the athletic department. The ROI program will have us diving deep into ourselves to look at and challenge our engrained emotions towards all levels of diversity. Then as a group, we can come together with a clear mission to initiate change across our department; ultimately strengthening the environment for our student-athletes, and campus community."
Both Walton and Stone serve on the Albion Athletics Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Divided into six self-paced online modules, Return On Inclusion's comprehensive diversity and inclusion training is designed specifically for college athletic departments. Participants receive instruction on a variety of topics, including:
- Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Foundations
- Cultural Competence & Managing Relationships
- Overcoming Bias, Microaggressions & Covering
- Unpacking Racism, Anti-Racism & Privilege
- LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Gender Stereotypes
- Inclusive Leadership & Strategic Plan Development
Instruction in all six modules is provided by ROI founder Nevin Caple, a national thought leader on diversity, inclusion and belonging in sport. The curriculum was developed by Caple in collaboration with the ROI advisory board – a diverse collection of college athletics administrators and scholars from around the country.
"I am thrilled to share ROI with the community I care so deeply about," Caple said. "We should all have access to the tools we need to do our jobs most effectively. I hope ROI will serve as a catalyst for many institutions to prioritize learning for coaches, athletic administrators, and staff as they embark on their inclusive leadership journey."
As coaches and administrators complete the training, they will be better equipped to support and mentor student-athletes from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Participants who complete all six modules earn the ROI Inclusive Leader Certificate.
About Return on Inclusion
Return On Inclusion™ (ROI) is a sport-specific diversity and inclusion education platform dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and fostering a culture of belonging across social and cultural differences. Our self-paced modules standardize learning methods, deepening our commitment to helping every coach and athletic administrator develop the skills and competencies necessary to support student-athletes and achieve inclusive excellence in programs, policies and practices.
The ROI Advisory Board includes national thought leaders in college athletics who have made significant contributions to fostering inclusive teams and programs. Board members include: Board Chair Resa Lovelace (Maryland), DaWon Baker (Nebraska), Isa Berardo (Pomona-Pitzer), Cherish Burks (Alabama), Clyde Doughty (Bowie State), Kim Doran (Ohio State), Jessica Duff (Bates), Jaide-Hinds Clarke (Richmond), Katie Harbert (Oregon), Noah Knight (Kansas City Athletics), Yannick Kluch (Rowan), Jacqie McWilliams (CIAA), John Square (GW), Maria Sanchez (Northwestern), Whitney Johnson (NCAA).
Visit roinclusion.com or follow @ROInclusion on Twitter for more information.
Return On Inclusion Press Contact:
Kyle Chilton (he/him)
801-372-2080