Social Justice Alliance

Strategic Plan
PSAC Social Justice, Diversity, Inclusion Strategic Plan
 
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Social Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Strategic Plan

Promoting Social Justice; Advocating Change

Our purpose is to serve our Student-Athletes by educating and providing a platform to serve each other and our surrounding communities. We strive to be the catalyst in creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment in our locker rooms and fields of play, on our campuses, and in our surrounding communities. We intend to provide opportunities for our student-athlete's voices not only to be heard but to be the driving force behind meaningful change. We will recognize and respect individual differences while facilitating important dialogue.

PSAC Social Justice Alliance: Accomplishments
  • Created Motto:  "Promoting Social Justice; Advocating Change"
  • Developed a Strategic Plan to help guide planning and activities
  • Reinstituted "Minority and Women's Assistant Coaches Workshop" to help current assistants striving for the next position in their careers.
  • Surveyed student-athletes, coaches and administrators with a "Climate Survey" to determine current weakness and baseline for future measurement
  • Expanded data gathering of searches being conducted on member campuses for coaching and administrative positions, including gender and race diversity of interviewed candidates and search committees
  • Encouraged on-campus participation in activities toward civic engagement on Division II mandatory day of November general election date
  • Added "Social Justice Efforts" to all conference-wide meeting agendas
  • Encouraged member participation in the annual NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Social Media Campaign held each October
  • Set aside professional development funding for PSAC administrators attending the NCAA Inclusion Seminar each April
  • Hosted a webinar each of the last four semesters geared to coaches on DEI and Belonging.
  • Supported the costs of four "A Long Talk about an Uncomfortable Truth" Workshops in the last two years.
  • Supported Black History Month activities in 2022 by highlighting a current or former Black coach or student-athlete from each member institution during February
  • Supported Black History Month activities in 2023 by introducing each athletic event with the playing of "Lift Every Voice" prior to each event.
  • Celebrated "International Student Week" in November of 2022 highlighting the number of student-athletes participating in the PSAC from other countries.
  • Instituted "listening sessions" on each member campus in the Spring of 2023 through Fall of 2023 with reporting back opportunities on feedback by our student-athletes.
  • Created branding opportunity in Fall of 2023 by distributing posters on campuses.
  • Introduced the PSAC Equity Statement to be recited before each event.
  • Established conference website landing page for Social Justice Alliance information and activities as well as clearinghouse of critical links.
  • Entered into an agreement with WECoach to provide educational opportunities to female coaches throughout the Conference.
  • Honored as Honorable Mention for NCAA Division II Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Award for Diversity and Inclusion.
 

Student-Athlete Resources
  1. Know your Title IX
  2. You Can Play (LGBTQ+ Support)
  3. NCAA Office of Inclusion 
  4. It's On Us (Stop Sexual Assault)

Coach Resources
  1. A Long Talk
  2. Black Coaches Association
  3. Know Your Title IX  
  4. Women Leaders in College Sports 
  5. NCAA Inclusion in Sports 
  6. LGBTQ+ Resources 
  7. Women Coaches Resources 
  8. Latino Coaches 

Administrative Resources
  1. Equity in Athletics Reports 
  2. IUPUI Inclusive Job Language 
  3. Four Elements of an Inclusive Job Advertisement 
  4. Do's and Don'ts for Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions 
  5. NCAA /LGBTQ+ Resources for Creating Inclusive Departments 
  6. Athletics/LGBTQ+/Faith: Common Ground

Other Resources

ADL Website 
Dialogues on Diversity
Let's Breakthrough


 
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Social Justice Alliance Members
Name Institution Position Title (Committee Representation)
Maddy Rodriguez Bloomsburg Executive Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs
Audrey Emerich California (Pa.) Head Volleyball Coach
Jason Edwards Clarion Head Women's Soccer Coach
Sarah Ross East Stroudsburg Associate Athletic Director
Jaime Sallie Edinboro Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Mike Chalas Gannon Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Molly Bauer Indiana (Pa.) Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Christine Price Kutztown Director, Women's Center
Danielle Fraser Lock Haven Associate Head Softball Coach
Peggy Carl Mansfield Director of Athletics
Miguel Pereira  Millersville Title IX Coordinator
Ola Johansson Pitt-Johnstown Faculty Athletic Representative
Maeve Gallagher Seton Hill Head Women's Basketball Coach
Julia Kaufman Shepherd Head Women's Basketball Coach
Miranda Fisher Shippensburg Athletic Trainer
Keshia Booker Slippery Rock Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
West Chester
Danae Ellzy Mansfield Student-Athlete, Women's Basketball
Alex Griggs Slippery Rock Student-Athlete, Men's Basketball
Charles Patterson Shippensburg President (Ex Officio Chair, President's Executive Committee)
Jeff Michaels Shippensburg Athletic Director (Ex Officio Chair, Athletic Administrator's Executive Committee)
 
 

#PSACBelong Social Media Campaign

The PSAC's Social Justice Alliance initiated a year-long social media campaign, #PSACBelong, for the 2024-25 season. A different member institution was featured every two weeks, with a focus on sharing the efforts on each campus that promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. A full list of each institution that was featured can be found here.
 

2025-26 NCAA Community and Belonging Social Media Campaign


 


2024-25 NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign








 

ABOUT THE PSAC

Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 17 campuses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The members are: Bloomsburg, California (PA), Clarion, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, and West Chester University.