NATCHITOCHES – "It's important that, if we have information, we let it encompass the whole campus."
 
Those were the words Northwestern State Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity Dr. Michael Snowden uttered following his first extended exposure to NSU coaches and athletic department staff.
 
Snowden hosted a large portion of the department – including full-time head/assistant coaches and staff members --Tuesday morning, showing and discussing Dashan J. Axson-Lawrence's webinar, "The MIS-Education of the Black Male Student-Athlete: How Socio-demographic (Self) Identifiers Influence Their Identity Development and Their Involvement in College."
 
Axson-Lawrence, an academic coordinator at the University of Virginia, hosted the roughly half-hour discussion that focused on the identity development of Black student-athletes at the Division I level and the roles coaches and athletic staff members have in doing so.
 
The presentation touched upon building trust and authentic connections between student-athletes and their coaches and staff members, helping student-athletes become more involved on campus outside of athletics to round out their collegiate experience and the development of racial identity for Black male student-athletes past their athletic achievements.
 
"This was a good place to start seeing as how the coaches have a greater opportunity to impact change, because of their close proximity to the student-athletes and their ability to build that trust," Snowden said. "If they can build that trust, they can help those students. Not all students are going pro. The NCAA talks about going pro in other things than sports. How can we help these student-athletes go professional in whatever career they are trying to attain?"
 
Following the presentation, Snowden held a question-and-answer session with department coaches and staff members.
 
"The hour spent this morning by our coaches and staff without a doubt advanced the athletic department in an area that is critical to enhancing student-athlete development," Director of Athletics Greg Burke said. "It's important to have a more comprehensive understanding of all student-athletes to ensure an environment that embraces inclusion and diversity.
 
"I appreciate our coaches and staff for a tremendous turnout. This is far from the end, but it's another really good step for our department. I think there are going to be some real positive takeaways that will, more than anything else, benefit our student-athletes, and that's what it's all about."