Nebraska Athletics Staff Diversity and Inclusion Programming

Staff Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn Series:
The Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn series allows staff members and coaches the opportunity to learn more about diversity and inclusion in a more intimate, detail-oriented setting. Formatted differently than the annual summit, the lunch and learns are more interactive and allow for participants to learn more about specific diversity and inclusion topics and initiatives. The Lunch N Learn series happens once a month in the summer, and semesterly during the school year, touching on a variety of topics. Presenters come from community organizations, speakers and campus partners. 
 
Diversity and Inclusion Summit:
Nebraska Athletics has planned and executed the Diversity and Inclusion Summit since 2016, devoting time and resources to maintaining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a consistent conversation in athletics. The goal is to expand the definition of diversity, spread awareness and educate student-athletes and staff on the concept of celebrating diversity and practicing equity and inclusion. The Summit has received praise from NCAA administrators, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Administration, national experts on diversity, equity, and inclusion, coaches, staff and student-athletes.

Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition
The goal of the Coalition is to seek tangible ways to actively and constructively combat racism and hate around the world while also empowering student-athletes to express their rights to free speech and nonviolent protest. The Coalition is comprised of student-athletes, staff members, coaches, faculty and administrators from the 14 institutions across the Big Ten Conference. The Coalition is consistently working to create content, programming and policies that can be distributed and implemented across the Big Ten Conference. Members of each Coalition take the information and explore ways to implement it to their specific campuses.
 
Staff Nclusion Pledge:
Introduced at the 2019 Summit, The Staff Nclusion Pledge is a visible sign of support for maintaining an inclusive environment for student-athletes and staff in Nebraska athletics. The pledge is also available in athletic programs for fans to view and sign. 

UNL Out and Allied List:
Athletic staff members have the option to join UNL's Out and Allied List. An Ally is an individual who is pro-LGBTQA+ and actively committed to diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and safety for all people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expression. Staff members who sign receive an ally and safe space sticker, demonstrating their visible support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Staff Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn Series:
The Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn series allows staff members and coaches the opportunity to learn more about diversity and inclusion in a more intimate, detail-oriented setting. Formatted differently than the annual summit, the lunch and learns are more interactive and allow for participants to learn more about specific diversity and inclusion topics and initiatives. The lunch and learn series happen once a month in the summer, and semesterly during the school year, touching on a variety of topics. Presenters come from community organizations, speakers and campus partners.

Justice in June Challenge
Life Skills and Diversity and Inclusion will co-sponsor educational challenges and resources to provide to staff, coaches and student-athletes. Following the aftermath of the racial injustice in Spring 2020, the staff discovered the Justice in June Challenge. This resource was compiled by Autumn Gupta with Bryanna Wallace’s oversight for the purpose of providing a starting place for individuals trying to become better allies. By completing a reading, watching a video, and listening to a podcast for 10-45 minutes per day over an entire month, individuals actively learned about social justice, antiracism and allyship. A discussion was then held twice over the course of the month, to discuss how the resources were impactful and how to create meaningful change after the challenge. A number of Student-athletes, staff members and coaches participated in the challenge. The challenge serves as one of the many educational opportunities around diversity, equity and inclusion that Nebraska Athletics provides to the staff.

Partnerships and Collaborations:
Nebraska Athletics maintains partnerships with many campus organizations, departments and constituents to provide the best student-athlete experience. We also partner with organizations to actively create a culture of inclusion. Please see our partnerships with our diversity and inclusion partners here.