University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Athletics To Host Northeast Black Student-Athlete Summit
May 18, 2021 | Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts Athletics, in partnership with the New England Patriots, New England Revolution and Together Beat Hate, is proud to host the 2021 Northeast Black Student-Athlete Summit. The event will be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. from August 30 to September 1.
The event, traditionally located in Austin, Texas and the first of its kind held in New England, was created to bring together student-athletes and the staff and administrators who support them in order to focus on the unique needs of student-athletes of color.
Tickets for the 2021 Northeast Black Student-Athlete Summit are now available by clicking here! Tickets cost $400 to attend in person, which includes breakfast and lunch each day, or $200 to attend virtually. Group pricing for those wishing to attend virtually is also available at the following rates:
Group Pricing (For Virtual Only)
$200 - for groups of 1-4 people
$175 - for groups of 5-9 people
$150 - for groups of 10+ people
Patriot Place will be the official hotel area of designation for those attending the Summit in person. With a preferred rate for attendees of $178/night, you will be directed to hotel information when purchasing your in-person registrations here. Numerous food and lodging options are available, and is an easy walk to the facilities where the Summit will take place. Parking will be complimentary on site. Please contact Alan Pandiani (apan@umass.edu) with any questions.
Keynote speakers during the three-day event include:
Monday, August 30: Dr. Leonard R. Moore is the founder and executive director of the Black Student-Athlete Summit. He is currently the George Littlefield Professor of American History and the former vice-president of diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, who earned his BA from Jackson State University in 1993 and his PhD from the Ohio State University in 1998. From 1998-2007 he served as a professor and administrator at Louisiana State University and he has been at the University of Texas at Austin since 2007. Inside the classroom Dr. Moore teaches more than 1,000 undergraduate students in the fall semester in his two classes: History of The Black Power Movement and Race in the Age of Trump. Dr. Moore also directs summer programs in Beijing, China, and Cape Town, South Africa, and in Dubai. As a scholar Professor Moore is the author of three books on black politics and his fourth book, Teaching Black History to White People, will be published in the fall of 2021.
Tuesday, August 31: Dr. Nefertiti Walker - Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts. Through the vice chancellor's leadership, UMass Amherst strives to form and strengthen socially just learning and working environments that foster a culture of excellence through diverse people, ideas and perspectives. The vice chancellor oversees the implementation of the Diversity Strategic Plan, provides strategic leadership for campus diversity efforts to institutionalize a climate of equity and inclusion, and works to nurture a positive campus climate for students, staff and faculty. To learn more about Dr. Walker, please click here.
Wednesday, September 1: Ryan M. Sutton is the co-chair of the Black Student-Athlete Summit. As a psychologist, professor of counseling psychology, and director of the Heman Sweatt Center for Black Males and the Community Integrated Health Initiative, Dr. Sutton focuses on the holistic development of students, particularly their mental health. Dr. Sutton received his BS in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana (where he ran track and cross country) and his MA and PhD from Howard University. He completed his APA-accredited internship at D.C. Superior Courts during forensic assessments and therapy. His research and practice focuses on mental health, trauma, resiliency, and health equity within Black communities. Dr. Sutton has published in various national journals and has presented at national and international conferences.
A robust agenda with additional speakers, information, and programming will be released in early July.
Attendees are also welcome to submit a proposal to present during the Summit. Proposals must be submitted by June 30 by clicking here. Selected presenters will be notified by Friday, July 9 via email if they will be presenting in-person or their video presentation will be streamed. Spots will be limited for presentations.
Upon attending the 2019 summit, UMass student-athletes Solomon Siskind and Desiree Oliver met with UMass Athletics Senior Leadership looking to bring the event to the Northeast to provide an opportunity for more than 450 institutions to access the transformative event without having to travel to Texas. From there Amanda Ekabutr (Director of Student-Athlete Development/Diversity and Inclusion Officer), Alan Pandiani (Associate Athletic Director, Development) and Elizabeth Smith Hamlet (Senior Assistant Director of Academic Success), along with co-host institutions from the University of Rhode Island, Dartmouth and Providence put a plan into action, partnering with executives from the Kraft Sport & Entertainment to bring the summit to Gillette Stadium.
The event, traditionally located in Austin, Texas and the first of its kind held in New England, was created to bring together student-athletes and the staff and administrators who support them in order to focus on the unique needs of student-athletes of color.
Tickets for the 2021 Northeast Black Student-Athlete Summit are now available by clicking here! Tickets cost $400 to attend in person, which includes breakfast and lunch each day, or $200 to attend virtually. Group pricing for those wishing to attend virtually is also available at the following rates:
Group Pricing (For Virtual Only)
$200 - for groups of 1-4 people
$175 - for groups of 5-9 people
$150 - for groups of 10+ people
Patriot Place will be the official hotel area of designation for those attending the Summit in person. With a preferred rate for attendees of $178/night, you will be directed to hotel information when purchasing your in-person registrations here. Numerous food and lodging options are available, and is an easy walk to the facilities where the Summit will take place. Parking will be complimentary on site. Please contact Alan Pandiani (apan@umass.edu) with any questions.
Keynote speakers during the three-day event include:
Monday, August 30: Dr. Leonard R. Moore is the founder and executive director of the Black Student-Athlete Summit. He is currently the George Littlefield Professor of American History and the former vice-president of diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, who earned his BA from Jackson State University in 1993 and his PhD from the Ohio State University in 1998. From 1998-2007 he served as a professor and administrator at Louisiana State University and he has been at the University of Texas at Austin since 2007. Inside the classroom Dr. Moore teaches more than 1,000 undergraduate students in the fall semester in his two classes: History of The Black Power Movement and Race in the Age of Trump. Dr. Moore also directs summer programs in Beijing, China, and Cape Town, South Africa, and in Dubai. As a scholar Professor Moore is the author of three books on black politics and his fourth book, Teaching Black History to White People, will be published in the fall of 2021.
Tuesday, August 31: Dr. Nefertiti Walker - Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts. Through the vice chancellor's leadership, UMass Amherst strives to form and strengthen socially just learning and working environments that foster a culture of excellence through diverse people, ideas and perspectives. The vice chancellor oversees the implementation of the Diversity Strategic Plan, provides strategic leadership for campus diversity efforts to institutionalize a climate of equity and inclusion, and works to nurture a positive campus climate for students, staff and faculty. To learn more about Dr. Walker, please click here.
Wednesday, September 1: Ryan M. Sutton is the co-chair of the Black Student-Athlete Summit. As a psychologist, professor of counseling psychology, and director of the Heman Sweatt Center for Black Males and the Community Integrated Health Initiative, Dr. Sutton focuses on the holistic development of students, particularly their mental health. Dr. Sutton received his BS in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana (where he ran track and cross country) and his MA and PhD from Howard University. He completed his APA-accredited internship at D.C. Superior Courts during forensic assessments and therapy. His research and practice focuses on mental health, trauma, resiliency, and health equity within Black communities. Dr. Sutton has published in various national journals and has presented at national and international conferences.
A robust agenda with additional speakers, information, and programming will be released in early July.
Attendees are also welcome to submit a proposal to present during the Summit. Proposals must be submitted by June 30 by clicking here. Selected presenters will be notified by Friday, July 9 via email if they will be presenting in-person or their video presentation will be streamed. Spots will be limited for presentations.
Upon attending the 2019 summit, UMass student-athletes Solomon Siskind and Desiree Oliver met with UMass Athletics Senior Leadership looking to bring the event to the Northeast to provide an opportunity for more than 450 institutions to access the transformative event without having to travel to Texas. From there Amanda Ekabutr (Director of Student-Athlete Development/Diversity and Inclusion Officer), Alan Pandiani (Associate Athletic Director, Development) and Elizabeth Smith Hamlet (Senior Assistant Director of Academic Success), along with co-host institutions from the University of Rhode Island, Dartmouth and Providence put a plan into action, partnering with executives from the Kraft Sport & Entertainment to bring the summit to Gillette Stadium.
Monday, October 19
Sunday, October 18
Sunday, October 18
Sunday, October 18