University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Edoka Takes Part in NCAA Inclusion Forum
05.02.2019 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA - A native of Nigeria, Stephen Edoka never had imagined himself attending something like the NCAA Inclusion Forum, but when he learned of the opportunity he knew it was something he wanted to attend.
"I'm from Nigeria, so I never thought about issues like this before," Edoka said. "My interest in going was to become more familiar with these types of discussions happening here in America."
The 2019 NCAA Inclusion Forum was held April 26-28, 2019, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
The eighth-annual gathering offered useful knowledge, engaging dialogue and practical takeaways to empower the participants' efforts on equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives on their campuses. Sessions focused on core identities such as race/ethnicity, women/gender equity, LGTBQ, disability sport and international students.
A freshman forward on the UNC Asheville men's basketball team, Edoka attended a variety of different sessions at the annual event.
"We had a bunch of discussions and sessions on diversity on athletics departments across the country," Edoka said. "I also went to a session on LGBTQ. It was really just discussing how we could include diversity on our campuses. We took part in a bunch of sessions that helped to show us to remain open-minded about things and not be biased."
Edoka noted he learned a great deal to bring back to the UNC Asheville campus.
"The biggest thing I learned is how to start these types of conversations," Edoka said. "You do not want to just say things. You want to be credible and factual when you start having these conversations."
Part of the youngest team in the country last season, Edoka overall is thankful for the continued opportunities he is receiving as an NCAA Division I student-athlete.
"I am truly really thankful to UNC Asheville, the Big South and the NCAA for this incredible opportunity," Edoka said.
To learn more about the NCAA Inclusion Forum, please visit HERE. To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
"I'm from Nigeria, so I never thought about issues like this before," Edoka said. "My interest in going was to become more familiar with these types of discussions happening here in America."
The 2019 NCAA Inclusion Forum was held April 26-28, 2019, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
The eighth-annual gathering offered useful knowledge, engaging dialogue and practical takeaways to empower the participants' efforts on equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives on their campuses. Sessions focused on core identities such as race/ethnicity, women/gender equity, LGTBQ, disability sport and international students.
A freshman forward on the UNC Asheville men's basketball team, Edoka attended a variety of different sessions at the annual event.
"We had a bunch of discussions and sessions on diversity on athletics departments across the country," Edoka said. "I also went to a session on LGBTQ. It was really just discussing how we could include diversity on our campuses. We took part in a bunch of sessions that helped to show us to remain open-minded about things and not be biased."
Edoka noted he learned a great deal to bring back to the UNC Asheville campus.
"The biggest thing I learned is how to start these types of conversations," Edoka said. "You do not want to just say things. You want to be credible and factual when you start having these conversations."
Part of the youngest team in the country last season, Edoka overall is thankful for the continued opportunities he is receiving as an NCAA Division I student-athlete.
"I am truly really thankful to UNC Asheville, the Big South and the NCAA for this incredible opportunity," Edoka said.
To learn more about the NCAA Inclusion Forum, please visit HERE. To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
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