Smith 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, Smith College.

Smith College, located in Northampton, Massachusetts, is an NCAA Division III institution that competes in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. The Pioneers field 11 varsity teams.

"We are excited to begin this work that is so important to our department and our student-athletes,” Smith College director of athletics and recreation Kristin Hughes said. “Our hope is that through partnering with ROI we will positively impact the athletic experience for all our teams."

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