CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) hosted its seventh Student-Athlete Leadership Conference last weekend, Friday-Sunday, February 4-6. The conference views these events as primarily educational but also a way to bond the A-R-C's athletics community. Almost 70 student-athletes from the conference's nine schools attended the event.
"This event is undoubtedly one of the Conference's most important initiatives," said A-R-C Commissioner
Dan Hammes. "The unique experience sees competitors in sport join forces in a way that enriches their identity as student-athletes not only at their institution but as NCAA Division III and A-R-C student-athletes. We are thankful for the NCAA's Strategic Initiatives Grant, which allows us to provide this unique leadership development opportunity.”
Danielle Rosario-Cushion, Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Upper Iowa University, led the group through the DiSC assessment. DiSC provides "insight on an individual's unique behavioral styles and how those styles affect the way the individual communicates with others." Ms. Rosario-Cushion, making her third appearance at the event, will kicked off the Conference with a Friday night introductory DiSC session and then a follow-up on Saturday morning.
Saturday’s program began with a presentation by
Stephen Hebard, Ph.D., the director of Research and Innovation at Prevention Strategies, in Greensboro N.C. The mission of the organization is to “maintain an unrelenting focus on community-engaged scholarship by translating science into practical tools and programs to improve the overall health and wellness of adolescents and young adults.” Hebard shared information with the student-athletes about mental health.
In addition, the student-athletes heard from
Sergio Perez, Loras College’s Diversity Officer, Advisor to the President, and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designees (ADID). Perez opened a conversation about identity and how a person’s identity plays a role in their everyday life. He also discussed intersectionality; a term coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989.
During the Saturday afternoon sessions, student-athletes heard from more from Hebard regarding mental health prevention strategies and mechanisms to understand and handle mental health struggles. Hebard was followed by
Dr. Joel Berrien of Buena Vista University, Senior Director for Diversity, and Inclusion and ADID. Dr. Berrien presented on how student-athletes can become allies and accomplices, as well as the different types of accomplices. He opened the floor by leading a table talk to discuss ways to become allies and accomplices to oppressed and marginalized groups.
April Elsbernd of the University of Dubuque, Head Volleyball Coach and Athletic Representative for Diversity and Inclusion helped guide meaningful conversations with the student athletes.
The Saturday afternoon session was concluded with a presentation from
Braly Keller, the former Nebraska Wesleyan football and swimming student athlete as well as DIII and A-R-C's representative to the national Student-Athlete Advisory, and
Tucker McHugh former Nebraska Wesleyan baseball student athlete. Keller and McHugh now work for Opendose and they presented on the opportunities that the company can provide for student-athletes. Opendorse is a company that provides Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) solutions to support student athletes at every level.
Sunday morning’s session included student-led production of public service announcement videos on topics of their choice (sportsmanship, sexual violence prevention, general conference promotion, etc.). Following the creation of PSAs, Elsbernd challenged student-athletes to start and/or continue conversations on campus regarding the topics they learned about. She also encouraged students to get out and support each other on campus. The conference ended with a final session of reflection and possible action steps for when the attendees return to campus.
