Per Media Release:
Huskies Become First Two-Time Winner of the Award
The Northern Illinois University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has been named the recipient of the 2022 NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Award for Diversity and Inclusion, becoming the first institution in the history of the award to earn the prestigious honor twice.
The NCAA announced NIU Athletics as the winner of the 2022 award Monday in its release of the complete list of honors and awards that will be presented at the NCAA Saluting Excellence Ceremony on Friday, January 21 during the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis.
“We are extremely proud to be the first two-time recipient of the NCAA/MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion,” said NIU President Dr. Lisa Freeman. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded in NIU’s mission, vision and core values. Huskie Athletics exemplifies our commitment to creating an inclusive university experience through their actions and their collaborations across our campus and community. Congratulations to [Vice-President, Director of Athletics and Recreation] Sean Frazier, [Senior Associate Athletic Director] Courtney Vinson, our head coaches and the entire staff for being recognized nationally for their leadership and effective practices.”
“At Northern Illinois University, we live the values of diversity, equity and inclusion every day,” said Sean T. Frazier, NIU Vice President, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Becoming the first institution to earn the NCAA/MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion for a second time is a validation of what we have accomplished so far, as well as a recognition of our outcomes and ongoing commitment in this critical area.
“This award represents the hard work being done throughout Huskie Athletics by coaches, staff, student-athletes and teams to create an inclusive and accepting environment. We could not have made the strides forward we have made – and will continue to make – in this area without the collaboration of our university and community partners, and the leadership of President Freeman and the Board of Trustees.
“Advancing the causes of diversity, equity and inclusion in intercollegiate athletics has been a passion of mine throughout my career, and I’m extremely proud that NIU continues to carry the torch forward by providing a model that can be replicated across the country.”
The NCAA/MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion recognizes and celebrates the initiatives, policies and practices of school and conference offices that embrace diversity and inclusion across intercollegiate athletics. This can be achieved through community service, professional development, hiring practices or programming activities that enhance opportunities for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences.
NIU was the 2016 recipient of the NCAA/MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion and has since built upon and expanded its efforts while responding to an increased awareness of social justice issues among today’s student-athletes with programming and support.
Many of NIU Athletics’ diversity and inclusion efforts are initiated by the department’s Diversity Integration Group (DIG), chaired by Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Administration Courtney Vinson.
“The beauty about winning this award is it highlights the importance of having a clear vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a university and athletics department,” Vinson said.
“The NIU student-athletes made an indelible mark through their passion for social justice by showing up, learning, listening, and speaking truth to power. By allowing them to lead from their seat, administrators had the privilege to watch them find their voice.
“This also demonstrates the power that college campuses hold when athletics collaborates with the campus community to create, foster, and maintain an environment that embraces the humanity of people. I want to thank our campus partners, coaches, and staff for their daily contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our athletic department.”
DIG members include athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes, as well as representatives from the university’s Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) and directors of NIU’s Diversity and Cultural Resource Centers. Their involvement with DIG has provided Huskie student-athletes and staff with access to programming and education. Through its expanded membership, DIG has developed a more comprehensive plan toward creating an inclusive culture and climate with assessable goals.
NIU, through its relationship with ADEI, instituted two professional trainings per year for coaches and staff. Both C.O.D.E. (Conversations On Diversity and Equity) Training and LGBTQIA+ Ally Training aim to empower coaches to create their own diversity, equity and inclusion programming with their teams. Several teams, including NIU’s women’s basketball, softball and soccer teams have created specific DEI programming within their programs, while other groups – supported by DIG and ADEI – provide opportunities for student-athletes from multiple teams to come together for discussion and action.
The increase in social justice activism and awareness following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 resulted in NIU Athletics’ DIG creating a Social Justice Action Plan. The plan brought together – virtually – African American student-athletes, a focus group of student-athlete leaders and an all-staff virtual “town hall” of NIU Athletics coaches and staff to discuss the topics of social justice and race relations. It also provided continuing education, support for student-led initiatives and the opportunity for members of the Huskie Athletics community to connect with support organizations.
Each year, coaches and staff members are surveyed regarding their experiences in the athletic department and student-athletes complete an anonymous program evaluation, which encourages them to provide feedback on NIU’s efforts to promote and support diversity, equity and inclusion.
“NIU powerfully illustrates the intentional, strategic and consistent efforts taken at the campus level to foster an inclusive campus environment for student-athletes, coaches, and administrators,” said Felicia Martin, NCAA Interim Senior Vice President for Inclusion, Education and Community Engagement.
The 2022 NCAA/MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion is just the latest example of NIU’s continuing leadership in this area. In 2021, the university received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. NIU is also the only institution in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) led by a woman president whose director of athletics, head football coach and head men’s basketball coach are all African American.