Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment

Loras College and the Department of Athletics is committed to creating the best possible experience for it's students, staff and supporters. This page showcases and provides information about the opportunities for Loras student-athletes and the greater Dubuque community to engage, celebrate and learn about diversity, equity and inclusion. For more information on how to get involved, contact Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen or the Diversity and Inclusion Designee for Athletics Sergio Perez.

A message from Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen '90

"Loras Athletics has made strides in diversity, equity and inclusion realm and we are dedicated to continuing to do so in the future. We have forged a great collaborative relationship with the Center of Inclusion and Advocacy--Sergio Perez has assisted with education, training and support of our coaching staff so we can improve each and every day. In many of our programs our student athletes lead the charge which is exciting and energizing to witness. Developing well- rounded student-athletes is a goal of our department and diversity and inclusion plays a vital role. Our staff is dedicated to make our athletic programs welcoming and inclusive knowing it will make us all better."

Events

LatinX Heritage Night

LatinX Heritage Night with Loras soccer teams began League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 2018 and has grown in attendance and success each year. Loras campus gave space to a new tradition celebrating Latinx heritage and students. During the men’s and women’s soccer matches, music played in the stadium included Bachata, Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, etc. The announcements and prayer before the game were read entirely in Spanish. The games were broadcast online with students broadcasting the game entirely in Spanish. Flags of all the Latinx identities/countries represented were flown on the soccer field during the games. Vuvuzuelas and t-shirts were handed out to the first 100 students in attendance and food was provided by a local Mexican owned restaurant, El Paisano for the first 200 fans.

Black Excellence Night

Black Excellence Night with Loras Basketball Teams began in 2018 in conjunction with the Black Student Union. The first 50 students in attendance of each men’s and women’s games were given free Black Student Union Unity t-shirts. Raffle prizes were given out throughout both games. The Athletic Wellness Center was decorated with PanAfrican Flags and historical symbols of Black Power. The half-time for both games featured a local Black young children’s dance group, Turnt Kidz performance.

Women in Sports Day

Women in Sports Day with Women's Tennis, Volleyball and Soccer had its inaugural event in the fall of 2019, led by Loras SAAC. The events included a day long celebration of women in sports centering the women’s tennis, volleyball, and soccer teams. Each sporting event celebrated the women on each team at the games as well as social media while also inviting the Loras community to empower their peers to stand up against gender inequity. Prizes centering the celebration were given at each different meet throughout the day.

The Power in Our Voices Panel

The Power in Our Voices Panel brought the Duhawk athletics community together and gave a platform for Black student-athletes to talk openly about their experiences both at Loras and daily life as a Black person in society. The panel took place in the AWC and was a socially-distanced event in addition to live streamed. The full panel can be viewed HERE.

Student-Athlete Leadership and Diversity Development Opportunities

NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Table Talk

Six student athletes were able to present their intentions to begin programming around diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. Presentations ranged from addressing the lack of women in head coaching positions for women’s sports, LGBTQIA+ inclusion and the common ground initiative with the religious community, lack of coaches of color, mental health in athletics, international student transition programming and more.

Girls in Sports Day

The Girls in Sports Day Event held in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day in February is made possible by Loras women's coaching staff, administration and women student athletes to welcome local female high school students to spend the day on campus and understand the full participation women can have in sports in the collegiate level. The day-long event which has become a highly-talked about program in the Dubuque community since 2018, includes panelists, featured speakers, and a group event such as yoga to build connections among women in sports.

NCAA Inclusion Forum

Since 2018, both the Athletics Department and Center for Inclusion & Advocacy have taken students to attend the NCAA Inclusion Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana and Atlanta, Georgia. In total, eight students and three staff members have had the opportunity to attend.

On-campus Talks

In partnership with Center for Inclusion & Advocacy, the Department of Athletics hosted Aaron Hernandez, NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement for Division I football, in the spring of 2019. In his visit to campus Hernandez spoke about coming out as gay in the football word as an administrator. He spoke on his experience as coming out as a gay man, reconciling his sexual identity with his religious identity, and the reactions he has had thus far. Students and coaches had the opportunity to get to know him in classroom settings as well as through smaller dinner engagements during his visit.

Awards and Honors

Champion of Diversity Award

In the spring of 2019, Udelhofen was named as the inaugural recipient of the Loras College Champion of Diversity Award for her leadership in leading Athletics towards inclusion while advocating for issues pertaining to LGBTQIA+ identifying students, racial minorities, and issues surrounding brain/mental health. Loras' dedication to creating opportunities in athletics for diversity, equity and inclusion training did not go unnoticed as Loras received honorable mention status for the 2020 Award for Diversity and Inclusion, presented by the NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). The recognition kept coming when the Center for Inclusion and Advocacy earned the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region IV-E Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award on the same day.