The Emory athletics department and members of its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) recently hosted a presentation centering on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  The program was held in conjunction with the Eagles Fly Higher and the Emory Integrity Project (EIP).

The keynote presenter was National Football League player Kelvin Beachum. A noted advocate on many fronts, Beachum is known for his commitment to helping young people, especially minority and disadvantaged youth, develop the habits and skills for success. He has developed outstanding interactive programs in Effective Leadership and Diversity/Inclusion, and his training and presentations have been recognized throughout the country.

“The idea of bringing a speaker of Kelvin’s reputation to campus was to help engage our student-athletes in an open forum dialogue, stated Senior Associate Athletic Director and SAAC Advisor Joyce Jaleel. “Opportunities created in a diverse culture also bring responsibilities.  Creating positive team environments that foster respect for all backgrounds was one of the goals of this presentation.   “Don’t Just Talk About It, Be About It” highlighted the importance of these conversations at Emory, and beyond.”

Among Beachum’s speaking points were the importance of recognizing and acceptance of people who come from different cultural backgrounds, both in the ever-evolving college and workplace environments.  In addition, he stressed how vital it is for people to invest in each other, with that leading to inclusionary practices.

Earlier in the semester, the SAAC conducted an ‘Eagles Rising” Workshop that focused on a number of contemporary topics including Leadership, Communicating in Challenging Situations and Accountability with Integrity.  


Members of the Emory women's tennis team, seen here with Kelvin Beachum, were part of the student-athlete body that attended the presentation of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion