Mills College and ROI announce partnership for 2020-21 academic year

NEW YORK – Return On Inclusion, which delivers online sport-specific diversity and inclusion education, is pleased to announce its newest partner, Mills College.

Mills is located in Oakland, California, and is an NCAA Division III institution. The Cyclones field varsity teams in country, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

"We are thrilled to incorporate Return on Inclusion into our department’s ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion work,” Mills Athletic Director Allie Littlefox said. “This work is a core value of the APER department, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to engage with a diversity and inclusion program specific to athletics. Mills College seeks to create opportunities for engagement in activities that promote equity and justice and create and uphold a community that honors each person’s identities and experiences. Our partnership with ROI will continue to strengthen this community within APER and provide a chance for us to learn and grow as individuals and as a department."

"After having finished module one, I found it to be a great mix of self-reflection, information and brainstorming some actionable items as well,” APER Assistant Director and Head Swimming Coach Neil Virtue said. “I can see how this combination will be very helpful in creating a more inclusive atmosphere whether it be on a team, in a department or across campus as well."

"I am really excited to add to my toolkit of resources that will help me to continue to engage in meaningful ways to build spaces for my student-athletes to guide them in engaging in dialogues around identity and addressing systemic oppression while acknowledging their power in creating change," Head Soccer Coach Lilia Dosalmas said.

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) • kyle@roinclusion.com • 801-372-2080