Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the individual award winners for achievements in diversity & inclusion with the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator and Student-Athlete awards. Dr. Chet Hesson, Associate AD for Academics and Student Services, Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Bowling Green State University was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award. Miami senior tennis student-athlete Priyana Kalita was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award.
“It is an honor to recognize Bowling Green’s Dr. Chet Hesson and Miami’s Priyana Kalita for their outstanding leadership and commitment to prioritizing and advancing diversity and inclusion programs at their respective institutions,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
“Dr. Chet Hesson is a champion for diversity and inclusion, not only in the BGSU Athletics Department, but throughout our campus and within the Mid-American Conference,” said Bowling Green Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger. “We are grateful for his service and congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. As we continue to unite, inspire and change, Dr. Hesson will continue to be a leader for BGSU.”
Hesson has been deeply involved with We Are One Team (WA1T) which is a program that is a collaboration between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Center for Leadership that utilizes a number of minor projects to promote social justice through sport. The projects are designed to address issues such as gender inequality, LGBTQ issues, racism, sexism, stereotypes and body image. As part of the WA1T program, Hesson developed the curriculum for the Team Players Program which is a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program for Student-Athletes. This certificate program which was developed in 2017 was designed specifically for student-athletes to gain valuable skills to become inclusive. The program represents a partnership between Athletics, WeAreOneTeam, the Marvin Center for Student Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and has received accolades from both the NCAA and the Mid-American Conference.
“I'm honored to be recognized by our peers in the MAC for the Diversity and Inclusion Administrator Award. Working and living to promote social justice, inclusivity and belonging is truly a passion of mine,” said Hesson. “Taking time to educate myself and others on these topics may be the most important education we can embark on and share with others. We all have power to evoke positive change. Understanding and leveraging that power is purposefully living. It's power because we can choose to start, fill, and end each day with love, empathy, an open-mind, and an appreciation for all living things. Or, we choose the opposite, and perpetuate hate, apathy, closed-mindedness, and xenophobic behaviors. The choice is ours, and I hope to do my part to elevate others to recognize their power and purpose as well."
Kalita has been active of diversity and inclusion on campus at Miami University and within the greater Oxford community. As a junior, she worked with campus groups to research and collect data to present to the institution for a program titled “Racial Consciousness 101” that addressed issues of colorism with Asian identities at Miami University. Additionally, she served as an undergraduate associate for University Studies 101 in which she assisted with planning the course layout to include key pieces of education related to gender issues, general diversity, and resources associated with topics on and off campus.
Within the Athletic Department, Kalita has served on the Diversity & Inclusion Council where she actively advocates for student-athletes from marginalized identities and assists in developing initiatives within the Athletic Department that bridge student-athletes’ athletic, campus, and community experiences. In addition to serving the athletic community on the D & I Council, she has served campus as an active member of Spectrum, an LBGTQIA+ support group for students and been an integral voice in continuing the work of the “You Can Play” Project through working to establish an Athlete Ally chapter at Miami University. Her most recent endeavors, as a member of the Interfaith Center at Miami University and Parents and Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) of Oxford, have allowed her to feed her passion of working to rectify issues related to human rights and the LBTQIA+ community. More specifically, Kalita’s work has shed light on areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion that have been overlooked at Miami University, within Athletics, and in the Oxford community for far too long. Her courage, persistence, and passion for using her voice to impact change and create more inclusive spaces make her the ideal recipient of this award.
"Priyana is the perfect embodiment, as a student-athlete, of our Graduating Champions mission here at Miami,” said Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler. “She has made her mark representing so many others, performing in the classroom and playing a key role in bringing a MAC Championship to Miami. I am so proud of all she has accomplished and thrilled that such a deserving award has been presented to her."
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. Through this program, the MAC is working to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
These six initiatives include: establishing a Conference Diversity & Inclusion Statement, the commitment of 25 new annual internships across membership, a collaborative mentoring program, a bi-annual summit, the first of which was hosted by the MAC on Feb. 8, 2018, the creation of a resource webpage and the annual awards platform to recognize one institutional athletic department, administrator and student-athlete.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion program provides career educational opportunities for a diverse pool of candidates, career entry and advancement opportunities, consistent support and career mentoring programs for all levels of professionals, and opportunities for collaboration on best hiring practices and cultural enhancements.
In the Fall of 2015, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher instituted a 15-member working group comprised of university administrators, senior athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives to present to MAC membership recommendations for a comprehensive diversity & inclusion program. Steinbrecher charged the working group with: “Taking a solution-oriented leadership role in accelerating and growing the pool of minority candidates for collegiate job opportunities in coaching and administration.”
