Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

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Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

Mission Statement

To cultivate a home-court advantage that ensures every student-athlete, coach and staff member feels a sense of belonging at BYU. We align with the university's charge that, "all relationships within the BYU community should reflect devout love of God and a loving, genuine concern for the welfare of our neighbor" and the need to "root out racism." As we continually strive to obey God’s commandment to love one another, we commit to building an intentional and inclusive environment that welcomes varying perspectives, backgrounds, cultures and life experiences.

In February 2021, the formation of a Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging department within BYU Athletics was created when Tom Holmoe hired Whitney Johnson as the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion. This was a brand new position created in order to help BYU Athletics in its continuing efforts to best support all of its student-athletes, including in relation to issues of diversity and inclusion. Johnson reports directly to Holmoe and is a member of BYU Athletics’ senior leadership team. Her position oversees the strategic vision and program implementation for diversity and inclusion within BYU Athletics, including for minority student-athletes in the core areas of race/ethnicity, international, LGBTQ & SSA, and student-athletes of other faiths.

In March 2022, a BYU Athletics Belonging Council was established in order to strategize the department's goals of belonging, with the plan to include at least one member from each department in BYU Athletics. The council meets monthly with Johnson to participate in trainings, brainstorming sessions and educational moments that assist in improving belonging. Each member acts as a representative by communicating updates and best practices to their prospective units in the athletic department. The committee is also broken into four subcommittees: Community, Data Collection, Education and Onboarding.

Growth

Propelling leaders (student-athletes, coaches and staff) to honor and respect others – who a person is, how they present themselves, and what they contribute – and to appropriately perceive, understand and value the diversity around us.

Identity

Accepting, loving and finding peace within ourselves, and our eternal destiny and potential, as children of God.

Charity

Practicing the pure love of Christ in our daily lives by showing compassion, love and kindness towards others.

Unity

Acknowledging and celebrating our differences and seeing the strength that comes in diversity as we strive toward the goal of becoming one team.

 

The 2024-25 Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Staff

Whitney Johnson: Associate AD for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (February 2021-present)

Corallee Alexander: Director of Experience and Belonging (July 2024-present)

Lauren Thomas Bosco: Communications and Social Media Specialist (August 2022-present)

Caitlyn Davis: Student Assistant for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (January 2024-present)

Strati Young: Student Assistant for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (January 2024-present)

Lily Owens: Student Assistant for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (January 2024-present)

Julia Pun: Student Assistant for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (August 2024-present)

Mariyah Housari: Graduate Assistant for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion (August 2024-present)

  • Belonging Begins with Me (September)
  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
  • NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign (October)
  • Sports Hero Day (October)
  • Native American Heritage Month (November)
  • International Education Week (November)
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January)
  • BYU Honor Week (January)
  • National Girls & Women in Sports Day (February)
  • Black History Month (February)
  • National Athletic Training Month (March)
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)
  • Pride Month (June)
  • Juneteenth (June 19)

Policies and Resources