Dr. Chet Hesson Named Recipient Of MAC Administrator Diversity And Inclusion Award
Fri, Oct, 23 | General
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the individual award winners for achievements in diversity & inclusion with the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator and Student-Athlete awards. Dr. Chet Hesson, Associate AD for Academics and Student Services, Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Bowling Green State University was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award. Miami senior tennis student-athlete Priyana Kalita was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award.
"It is an honor to recognize Bowling Green's Dr. Chet Hesson and Miami's Priyana Kalita for their outstanding leadership and commitment to prioritizing and advancing diversity and inclusion programs at their respective institutions," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
"Dr. Chet Hesson is a champion for diversity and inclusion, not only in the BGSU Athletics Department, but throughout our campus and within the Mid-American Conference," said Bowling Green Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger. "We are grateful for his service and congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. As we continue to unite, inspire and change, Dr. Hesson will continue to be a leader for BGSU."
Hesson has been deeply involved with We Are One Team (WA1T), a program that is a collaboration between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Center for Leadership that utilizes a number of projects to promote social justice through sport. The projects are designed to address issues such as gender inequality, LGBTQ issues, racism, sexism, stereotypes and body image. As part of the WA1T program, Hesson developed the curriculum for the Team Players Program, a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program for student-athletes. This certificate program, developed in 2017, was designed specifically for student-athletes to gain valuable skills to become inclusive. The program represents a partnership between Athletics, We Are One Team, the Marvin Center for Student Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and has received accolades from both the NCAA and the Mid-American Conference.
"I'm honored to be recognized by our peers in the MAC for the Diversity and Inclusion Administrator Award. Working and living to promote social justice, inclusivity and belonging is truly a passion of mine," said Hesson. "Taking time to educate myself and others on these topics may be the most important education we can embark on and share with others. We all have power to evoke positive change. Understanding and leveraging that power is purposefully living. It's power because we can choose to start, fill, and end each day with love, empathy, an open-mind, and an appreciation for all living things. Or, we choose the opposite, and perpetuate hate, apathy, closed-mindedness, and xenophobic behaviors. The choice is ours, and I hope to do my part to elevate others to recognize their power and purpose as well."
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. Through this program, the MAC is working to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
These six initiatives include: establishing a Conference Diversity & Inclusion Statement, the commitment of 25 new annual internships across membership, a collaborative mentoring program, a bi-annual summit, the first of which was hosted by the MAC on Feb. 8, 2018, the creation of a resource webpage and the annual awards platform to recognize one institutional athletic department, administrator and student-athlete.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion program provides career educational opportunities for a diverse pool of candidates, career entry and advancement opportunities, consistent support and career mentoring programs for all levels of professionals, and opportunities for collaboration on best hiring practices and cultural enhancements.
In the Fall of 2015, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher instituted a 15-member working group comprised of university administrators, senior athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives to present to MAC membership recommendations for a comprehensive diversity & inclusion program. Steinbrecher charged the working group with: "Taking a solution-oriented leadership role in accelerating and growing the pool of minority candidates for collegiate job opportunities in coaching and administration."
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
"I cannot think of a more deserving person for this honor. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Chet for the last few years and one thing that has become evident is that he is always thinking of new ways to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on campus, whether it be with BGSU Athletics, We Are One Team (WA1T), International Programs & Partnerships, or other campus leaders. Chet has demonstrated to me that he has a passion for this work and I know he will continue to do amazing things in the future." – Kyle Repetto, President, We Are One Team (WA1T)
"Chet is very student-centered and always makes sure student-athletes are included in conversations about retention, diversity and inclusion. Chet is a great team member and always willing to participate in meetings and to help on committees. I enjoy working with Chet and he is most deserving of this award." -- Lakeshia Dowlen, Title IX Coordinator
"The team at BGSU International Programs and Partnerships congratulates Chet Hesson on receiving the 2019-20 MAC Diversity & Inclusion Awards: Administrator Award. Chet has been working with our office for the last few years to make sure international athletes are welcome and receive the information they need as they first arrive in the USA. We also appreciate his efforts to keep his advising team aware of immigration regulation to better advise our international athletes as they progress in their studies. He cares for our international students and wants them to be successful at BGSU. He is most deserving of this recognition!" – International Programs and Partnerships
"It is an honor to recognize Bowling Green's Dr. Chet Hesson and Miami's Priyana Kalita for their outstanding leadership and commitment to prioritizing and advancing diversity and inclusion programs at their respective institutions," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
"Dr. Chet Hesson is a champion for diversity and inclusion, not only in the BGSU Athletics Department, but throughout our campus and within the Mid-American Conference," said Bowling Green Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger. "We are grateful for his service and congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. As we continue to unite, inspire and change, Dr. Hesson will continue to be a leader for BGSU."
Hesson has been deeply involved with We Are One Team (WA1T), a program that is a collaboration between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Center for Leadership that utilizes a number of projects to promote social justice through sport. The projects are designed to address issues such as gender inequality, LGBTQ issues, racism, sexism, stereotypes and body image. As part of the WA1T program, Hesson developed the curriculum for the Team Players Program, a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program for student-athletes. This certificate program, developed in 2017, was designed specifically for student-athletes to gain valuable skills to become inclusive. The program represents a partnership between Athletics, We Are One Team, the Marvin Center for Student Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and has received accolades from both the NCAA and the Mid-American Conference.
"I'm honored to be recognized by our peers in the MAC for the Diversity and Inclusion Administrator Award. Working and living to promote social justice, inclusivity and belonging is truly a passion of mine," said Hesson. "Taking time to educate myself and others on these topics may be the most important education we can embark on and share with others. We all have power to evoke positive change. Understanding and leveraging that power is purposefully living. It's power because we can choose to start, fill, and end each day with love, empathy, an open-mind, and an appreciation for all living things. Or, we choose the opposite, and perpetuate hate, apathy, closed-mindedness, and xenophobic behaviors. The choice is ours, and I hope to do my part to elevate others to recognize their power and purpose as well."
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. Through this program, the MAC is working to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
These six initiatives include: establishing a Conference Diversity & Inclusion Statement, the commitment of 25 new annual internships across membership, a collaborative mentoring program, a bi-annual summit, the first of which was hosted by the MAC on Feb. 8, 2018, the creation of a resource webpage and the annual awards platform to recognize one institutional athletic department, administrator and student-athlete.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion program provides career educational opportunities for a diverse pool of candidates, career entry and advancement opportunities, consistent support and career mentoring programs for all levels of professionals, and opportunities for collaboration on best hiring practices and cultural enhancements.
In the Fall of 2015, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher instituted a 15-member working group comprised of university administrators, senior athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives to present to MAC membership recommendations for a comprehensive diversity & inclusion program. Steinbrecher charged the working group with: "Taking a solution-oriented leadership role in accelerating and growing the pool of minority candidates for collegiate job opportunities in coaching and administration."
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
"I cannot think of a more deserving person for this honor. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Chet for the last few years and one thing that has become evident is that he is always thinking of new ways to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on campus, whether it be with BGSU Athletics, We Are One Team (WA1T), International Programs & Partnerships, or other campus leaders. Chet has demonstrated to me that he has a passion for this work and I know he will continue to do amazing things in the future." – Kyle Repetto, President, We Are One Team (WA1T)
"Chet is very student-centered and always makes sure student-athletes are included in conversations about retention, diversity and inclusion. Chet is a great team member and always willing to participate in meetings and to help on committees. I enjoy working with Chet and he is most deserving of this award." -- Lakeshia Dowlen, Title IX Coordinator
"The team at BGSU International Programs and Partnerships congratulates Chet Hesson on receiving the 2019-20 MAC Diversity & Inclusion Awards: Administrator Award. Chet has been working with our office for the last few years to make sure international athletes are welcome and receive the information they need as they first arrive in the USA. We also appreciate his efforts to keep his advising team aware of immigration regulation to better advise our international athletes as they progress in their studies. He cares for our international students and wants them to be successful at BGSU. He is most deserving of this recognition!" – International Programs and Partnerships