Big West Undivided

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In 2020, The Big West announced the formation of a standing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. The committee is comprised of one administrator and one student-athlete from each of the Big West's 11 member institutions. 
 
The committee works under the name Big West Undivided. This group is charged with promoting the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Athletic Departments of each member institution.
 
"The formation of a standing committee focused on issues associated with diversity, equity and inclusion, with significant leadership provided by our student-athletes, provides the opportunity for the Big West Conference to have a voice, contribute to the discussion, provide solutions and have a positive impact on combating hate, racism, discrimination and inequality," said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. "UNDIVIDED" drives the purpose and defines the direction for the members of this committee and all of our member institutions."
 
Big West Undivided operates under four guiding pillars: 
  • Education – Educating Committee members and league constituents on the importance of diversity and inclusion. 
  • Empowerment – Empowering student-athletes and administrators to find the voice to fight injustice.
  • Accountability – Holding those in campus communities and departments accountable for their actions and speech.
  • Change – Creating lasting change in campuses and communities through peaceful means and initiatives.
 
Big West Undivided has been chaired by UC San Diego's Director of Athletics Earl Edwards since its inception.
 
"I am excited and honored to be selected co-chair of our Big West Undivided Committee which will focus on social justice, anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion from a conference level," said Edwards upon the committee formation. 
 
The standing committee meets on a regular basis throughout the year. Undivided has worked with the conference's SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) on various projects, including a voter initiative encouraging student-athletes to take part in the electoral process by providing nonpartisan resources and registration information prior to the 2020 election cycle. 
 
2024-25 Big West Undivided Representatives
Staff Student-Athlete Institution 
Mackenzie Chionuma – Assistant AD, Business & Finance Mylina Garza, Softball Cal Poly
Susan Vollmerhausen - Senior Associate Athletics Director Garrison Freeman, Women's Basketball Cal State Bakersfield
Jay Darden – Assistant AD of DEI John "Mikey" Square, Men's Basketball Cal State Fullerton
Cedric Hackett – Associate Professor of Africana Studies & FAR Tasha Mae, Beach Volleyball CSUN
Derrick Florence – Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Mikayla Poloni – Women's Swimming and Diving Hawai'i
Gladie Jaffe – Deputy Athletics Director Daryana Hall – Women's Track and Field Long Beach State
Danielle Hamilton Carter – UD Student-Athlete Mentor Karly Redman, Field Hockey UC Davis
Joshua Moon – Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing Roman Warren, Men's Soccer UC Irvine
Chelsea Pfohl - Executive Analyst & Coordinator to the Athletics Director Vacant UC Riverside
Charity Anderson – Asst AD of EDI & Scholar Athlete Development Success Kyla Bruhn, Women's Water Polo UC San Diego
Ashlee Klingenberg, Deputy AD/SWA Ty Empremsilapa, Women's Swimming & Diving UC Santa Barbara

 
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