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Young, Dr. White Named 2023 ACC UNITE Award Recipients
10/18/2023 3:15:00 PM | Softball, Athletics
CHARLOTTE - The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced the recipients of the third annual 2023 ACC UNITE Award, which was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice.
The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC's Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) and was developed and approved by its 15 member institutions. Dr. Kevin White and softball head coach Marissa Young were named Duke's recipients.
Dr. Kevin White embodies the ACC's CORE mission – to promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement, and advocacy. Dr. White was synonymous with equity and inclusion within Duke Athletics. In the time he spent at Duke University as Vice President and Director of Athletics, Duke successfully earned eight NCAA championships demonstrating the strength of Duke Athletics.
Dr. White's contributions to Duke, however, extend far beyond athletics themselves. In 2016, Dr. White was recognized by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee as a champion of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. White was a champion of the people. He went above and beyond to place individuals from marginalized groups in positions of power in the hope of enhancing the administrative talent pipeline and diversifying a largely homogenous field.
Perhaps the most notable of Dr. White's achievements in the field of racial and social justice is the number of young associates of all races and backgrounds that have come to find success because of White's mentorship. As of 2016, 24 of his former aids have advanced to an athletics director position in colleges across the country. Dr. White's dedication to equitable hiring is unlike anything existing within college athletics currently. Upon his arrival at Duke, the senior and executive staff included only one female. Today, it features 10 women and five ethnic minorities. While Dr. White has retired from his role as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Duke, his legacy is felt everywhere. Duke's current policies and practices are a direct result of the foundation he laid.
Marissa Young came to Duke as its first African American female head coach. She was not only the first Black woman in this role, but also the first person in the role period. In this role, Young has spread diversity amongst her team through different education and engagement initiatives. As of 2020, Young was one of two Black Power Five head softball coaches.
Following the events of the summer of 2020, Young took it upon herself to address racial and societal inequality with her team. For Young, it was important her athletes were equipped to deal with what was going on in the world, not just in the world of Duke University. She made sure to give space to the five Black athletes on the team at the time to address their teammates and share life experiences.
Since the summer of 2020, Young continues to remain passionate about racial justice and equality for all. Young is one of the key contributors in the promotion of the MLK Partnership Day at Duke and the first person to bring the anti-racism program "Real Talk" to campus. Many other teams and programs then learned about "Real Talk" and incorporated this training into their programs.
A current member of ACC CORE, Young seeks to be an example for young minority women and open the door to the world of college athletics.
The UNITE Award is presented annually to individuals who:
- Best exemplify ACC CORE's mission to promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy.
- Have helped create meaningful, lasting change by improving systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes.
- Have been a pioneer and/or helped pave the way for minorities either at the institution or in the community.
Each school selects two recipients based on the above criteria and determines how best to celebrate their respective selections at campus events throughout the academic year.
"We are humbled to once again honor an amazing and inspirational collection of ACC UNITE Award recipients," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "This year's class of honorees deserve to be recognized for their incredible contributions in affecting change by promoting racial equity and social justice. Each of these pioneers are tremendous examples of what can be accomplished when you remain committed to steadfast prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are proud of CORE's steadfast efforts with what will remain a prominent conference priority."
The UNITE Award recipients were recognized as part of a one-hour show on SiriusXM ACC Radio, Channel 371 hosted by Roddy Jones and Dalen Cuff.
2023 UNITE Award Recipients
Boston College: John Austin & Joana Maynard
Clemson: Dr. James E. (Jim) Bostic Jr. & Dr. Rhondda Thomas
Duke: Dr. Kevin White & Marissa Young
Florida State: Angel Gray & Corey Simon
Georgia Tech: Charles Easley & Carla Gilson
Louisville: Wade Houston & Alyssa Murphy
Miami: Dr. Laura Kohn-Wood & Dr. Donald Spivey
North Carolina: Ricky Lanier & Karen Stevenson
NC State: Chavonda Jacobs-Young & Cullen Jones
Notre Dame: JP Abercrumbie & Justin Morrow
Pitt: Ron Idoko & Sheila I. Velez Martinez
Syracuse: Clothilde Ewing & Noah Singlemann
Virginia: Milla Ciprian & Craig Littlepage
Virginia Tech: Kahlil Dover & Jacelyn Lazore
Wake Forest: Dr. Larry Hopkins & Professor Muriel "Beth" Hopkins
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