University of Massachusets Athletics
Ekabutr Promoted To Director of Student-Athlete Development/Diversity and Inclusion Officer
October 19, 2020 | Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. -- Massachusetts Athletics announced Monday that Amanda Ekabutr has been promoted to the Director of Student-Athlete Development and Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In her new role, Ekabutr is responsible for helping lead the 2020-21 UMass Athletics Racial and Social Justice Plan for student-athletes, staff and coaches.
''This promotion and expanded job responsibilities indicate our sincere appreciation for Amanda's great work leading our student-athlete development unit and, more recently, driving our plan to be an industry leader on initiatives related to diversity and inclusion," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford.
Ekabutr is the NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, while also serving on the executive committee for the Atlantic 10 Conference Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and on the LEAD1 Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group, which examines issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in college sports.  As the Director of Student-Athlete Development and Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Ekabutr also guides student-athlete led groups, including Minority Student-Athletes United (MSAU) and UMass International Student-Athletes (I.S.A), and co-advises the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"I am so thankful and humbled to serve as the athletic department's Diversity & Inclusion Officer," Ekabutr said. "But this is not about me, it is about the collective. This work is not possible without our student-athletes, staff, coaches, colleagues and supporters. We need to hold each other accountable and do what is right. Diversity is absolutely beautiful, so let's embrace it and welcome it."Â
Since her arrival in July 2019, Ekabutr has transformed the student-athlete development unit, creating a vast number of experiential learning opportunities for UMass student-athletes as well as collaborative programming initiatives across the department.  She is also responsible for life skills programming for student-athletes, including personal and career development, community service opportunities, post-degree job planning, alumni networking, and building campus and community relationships and recognition opportunities.
Ekabutr arrived in Amherst following a tenure at Oregon State University with the Beavers' Student-Athlete Development Office. While at Oregon State, Ekabutr provided oversight for a number of initiatives geared toward the growth and maturation of OSU student-athletes, including Real Talk, Beavs BeTRUE and Women LEAD.
Additionally, Ekabutr supervised transformational and educational community service opportunities to increase team community service hours. She organized large-scale events for student-athletes such as the Academic Achievement Dinner, The Benny's and the Senior Graduation Brunch, in addition to involvement in nationally-recognized events such as the NCAA Women Leaders in College Sports Symposium and the Black Student-Athlete Summit.
While holding her role within the Student-Athlete Development Office at Oregon State, Ekabutr also served as an intern with the Varsity OSU staff and was tasked with the enhancement of relationships among alumni, current student-athletes and current and former coaches and administrators.
Ekabutr graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise and Wellness in December 2014, and later earned her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in College Student Services Administration, Education and Ethnic Studies from Oregon State in June 2019.
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''This promotion and expanded job responsibilities indicate our sincere appreciation for Amanda's great work leading our student-athlete development unit and, more recently, driving our plan to be an industry leader on initiatives related to diversity and inclusion," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford.
Ekabutr is the NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, while also serving on the executive committee for the Atlantic 10 Conference Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and on the LEAD1 Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group, which examines issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in college sports.  As the Director of Student-Athlete Development and Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Ekabutr also guides student-athlete led groups, including Minority Student-Athletes United (MSAU) and UMass International Student-Athletes (I.S.A), and co-advises the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"I am so thankful and humbled to serve as the athletic department's Diversity & Inclusion Officer," Ekabutr said. "But this is not about me, it is about the collective. This work is not possible without our student-athletes, staff, coaches, colleagues and supporters. We need to hold each other accountable and do what is right. Diversity is absolutely beautiful, so let's embrace it and welcome it."Â
Since her arrival in July 2019, Ekabutr has transformed the student-athlete development unit, creating a vast number of experiential learning opportunities for UMass student-athletes as well as collaborative programming initiatives across the department.  She is also responsible for life skills programming for student-athletes, including personal and career development, community service opportunities, post-degree job planning, alumni networking, and building campus and community relationships and recognition opportunities.
Ekabutr arrived in Amherst following a tenure at Oregon State University with the Beavers' Student-Athlete Development Office. While at Oregon State, Ekabutr provided oversight for a number of initiatives geared toward the growth and maturation of OSU student-athletes, including Real Talk, Beavs BeTRUE and Women LEAD.
Additionally, Ekabutr supervised transformational and educational community service opportunities to increase team community service hours. She organized large-scale events for student-athletes such as the Academic Achievement Dinner, The Benny's and the Senior Graduation Brunch, in addition to involvement in nationally-recognized events such as the NCAA Women Leaders in College Sports Symposium and the Black Student-Athlete Summit.
While holding her role within the Student-Athlete Development Office at Oregon State, Ekabutr also served as an intern with the Varsity OSU staff and was tasked with the enhancement of relationships among alumni, current student-athletes and current and former coaches and administrators.
Ekabutr graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise and Wellness in December 2014, and later earned her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in College Student Services Administration, Education and Ethnic Studies from Oregon State in June 2019.
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