GLVC Embraces Diversity and Inclusion With Empowering “Call to Action” PSA

INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) released Tuesday its latest public service announcement (PSA) entitled Call to Action, which features a diverse gathering of individuals from the league’s 15 member institutions and their empowering messages to address racism and social justice.

Call to Action features all 18 campus representatives from the GLVC Diversity and Inclusion Committee, embracing two of the three primary themes of the Conference’s initial diversity and inclusion action plan released last month. Inspired by last season’s three-minute Family PSA, which was eloquently narrated by University of Southern Indiana president Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, the 60-second Call to Action opens with a framed picture of the league’s new GLVC Family skin tone logo and then proceeds to canvas the collage of frames, featuring each Committee member and their personally-selected “call to action” message.

“Our Call to Action PSA is another example of the GLVC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, but we see it as so much more than a 60-second video,” said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich. “We could not be more proud of these diverse members of our GLVC family, who were asked to display an empowering message that was most important to them during these challenging times of racial inequality and social unrest. Let their words be a charge for us all to listen to and learn from each other with our most intentional efforts, so we can lead together as one.”

The words LISTEN, LEARN, LEAD and LOVE are also displayed throughout the video and featured in the final slide as part of the framed GLVC’s primary skin tone logo. The 16 aforementioned picture frames are seen displayed on the wall behind to showcase a diverse and inclusive GLVC Family.

Call to Action was produced by the GLVC’s strategic video production partner, Greers N Motion, based in Evansville, Indiana.

Below is a list of the GLVC Diversity and Inclusion Committee members featured in Call to Action and their empowering message:

• Drury: Dr. Charles Taylor, Faculty Athletics Representative – “Love Conquers Hate! BLM”
• Illinois Springfield: Ashlyn Beasley, Assistant Athletics Director – “Engage. Educate. Act!”
• Indianapolis: Jackie Paquette, Senior Woman Administrator – “Diversity is Our Future”
• Lewis: Jada Hoffman, Junior, Track & Field/Student Senate President – “We Must Do Better”
• Lindenwood: David Nicholson, Head Track & Field Coach – “We Are The Change We Seek”
• Maryville: Karlla Dozier, Senior Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator & Lonnie Folks, Athletics Director – “Equity is an Action Verb”
• McKendree: Nickie Sanlin, Head Volleyball Coach & Anthony Francis, Interim Athletics Director – “His Life Matters. Her Life Matters”
• Missouri S&T: Melissa Ringhausen, Athletics Director (with Asst.¬ Football Coach Damien Ross) – “All People Are Created Equal … And Should Be Treated Equal”
• Missouri-St. Louis: Steve Webb, Junior, Men’s Basketball/2020 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year – “All For One, One For All”
• Quincy: DJ Elmore, Head Athletic Trainer – “Racism is a Public Health Crisis”
• Rockhurst: Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., President – “Together”
• Southern Indiana: Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, President – “Let’s Learn to Live and Breathe Together”
• Southwest Baptist: Robert Clardy, Head Football Coach – “Love Thy Neighbor”¬
• Truman State: Liz Jorn, Faculty Athletics Representative & Theo Dean, Head Women’s Basketball Coach – “I Hear Him. I See Her.”
• William Jewell: JaeLynn Ellison, Assistant Athletics Director – “Love One Another”