An attorney by training, Ivy Banks was appointed vice president for institutional diversity and inclusion at Xavier University in Cincinnati in December 2021. She previously served as associate vice provost for diversity and inclusion at the University of Arizona. Her leadership experience in diversity and inclusion also includes time as Northern Arizona University’s assistant vice president of inclusion and director of Multicultural and LGBTQIA Student Services and as the University of Phoenix’s director of Disability Services. She also worked as an administrator at the University of Akron School of Law, for which she coordinated student recruitment and retention programs while implementing new diversity recruitment initiatives. A proud first-generation student, Banks earned her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, a Master of Education in educational leadership-community college/higher education from Northern Arizona University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cleveland State University. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., which is one of four historically African American sororities. She has also acquired training and certificates from Cornell University in the Faculty Institute for Diversity, along with Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), Section 504 and Decision Maker certifications.
Amy Bokker was named the third head coach in the history Ohio State University’s women’s lacrosse program in June 2019. Bokker came to Ohio State from Stanford University, where she led the university to six conference titles and eight NCAA tournament appearances over 11 seasons as head coach. Bokker received her first head coaching position at American University in 1997, leading the Eagles to a school-best 8-8 record and earning the 1997 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year award. During her time at American, Bokker was also the assistant for field hockey. Bokker was a two-time All-CAA first-team pick and BRINE/Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American at William and Mary, where she also played field hockey. She earned her master’s degree from George Mason University in exercise, fitness, and health promotion in 2007.
Dr. Thema Bryant is a professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University. In 2021, she was elected president-elect of the American Psychological Association (APA). Bryant is author of the book Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide and is published in the journals The Counseling Psychologist, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. Dr. Bryant serves on the editorial board for the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Her chapters can be found in the books The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women, The Psychology of Racism and Discrimination, The Encyclopedia of Psychological Trauma, and Featuring Females: Feminist Analyses of the Media. She is a three-time graduate of Duke University.
A New Track: Fostering Diversity and Equity in Athletics
American sport has always served as a platform for resistance and has been measured and critiqued by how it responds in critical moments of racial and social crises.
