Shayla Herndon-Edmunds is a personal development expert with experience and training in professional life coaching, emotional intelligence, unconscious bias, intercultural development, and Reiki to name a few. As an educator, public speaker, consultant, and healer, She helps individuals and organizations identify their strengths, challenges, goals, and strategies for moving forward, with clarity, towards success.
She is also the Founder and Chief Creator of Oh My Goodness Herbal Bar, an online gift shop that offers a line of herbal and aromatherapy products. In addition, she is the Director of Diversity Education in the Wake Forest University Office of Diversity & Inclusion, where she serves as an internal consultant and educator who supports the development of cultural competence of faculty, staff, and students.
Edmunds received her B.A. degree from George Mason University and holds a broad range of certifications, experience, and training that inform her eclectic coaching style. She is a married, mother of three, author, and entrepreneur.
Can you explain the importance of diversity and inclusion in the realm of collegiate sports?
While collegiate sports as we know it would not exist without student-athletes who differ across racial, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and many other intersectional identities the benefit of diversity to student-athletes won't be fully achieved without team and campus cultures that are grounded by equity and inclusion. Teams create unique conditions of common goals, equal status, cooperation, and institutional support. Contact Theory suggests that when people from diverse backgrounds have regular meaningful interactions under these conditions, those involved are likely to reduce their biases and prejudices toward each other. So the inherent nature of teams has the ability to encourage attitudinal shifts that lead to inclusive behaviors. However, this phenomenon doesn't make team instantly or magically inclusive or student-athletes automatically aware. It is possible for racially diverse teams to navigate challenging wins and losses without ever having an open dialogue about racism. Diversity and inclusion matter in the realm of collegiate sports because people, culture, belonging, and connection matter. If student-athletes can fight and work together on courts and fields, they can do the same with and for each other.
Where can students/student-athletes find resources to learn to be more diverse and inclusive in their lives and activities (sports, clubs, events)?
https://diverseeducation.com/article/187494/
www.racialequitytools.org
1619 Project
https://www.axios.com/student-athlete-activism-protests-college-sports-3cdcb5a3-8afd-406a-b523-19138a6c651f.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/civicnation/2020/08/24/taking-collegiate-athlete-activism-to-the-ballot-box/?sh=3e660bdf5b6b
Do you have any tools that student-athletes or the athletic department can use to focus their efforts to be a more inclusive environment?
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion
https://risetowin.org/index.html
Would you like to share any words of wisdom or a personal favorite quote on diversity and inclusion?
Student-athletes are uniquely positioned to influence campus culture and equity on their teams. I challenge you to think about what you are doing with your influence. Are you helping to create an environment where your peers are seen, supported, and value? Do you help to heal trauma or do you inflict it upon others? Your thoughts, words, and deeds are powerful currency. Use them with care and intention.
ADDITIONAL SALEM COLLEGE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Salem College is committed to building an inclusive campus community. The Center works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and administrators to cultivate a climate of awareness, understanding, respect, and inclusiveness for all individuals and groups. The Center designs and supports programs and initiatives that seek to ensure fair and equitable treatment for Salem College's richly diverse community.
Website Link: https://www.salem.edu/department/diversity-inclusion
Counseling Services
93% Experience personal improvement
100% Feel respected by their counselor
96% Will return for a future session
100% Appreciate the professionalism of the staff
Website Link: https://www.salem.edu/counseling-services
Residence Life
The primary purpose of Residence Life is to create a sense of community within the residence halls and greater campus by valuing, supporting, challenging, and empowering traditional students to discover their unique potential and celebrate human differences through their relationships with others in accordance with the Salem College mission.
Website Link: https://www.salem.edu/residence-life
Student Wellbeing
Website Link: https://www.salem.edu/people/susan-harding
Chaplain's Office
In keeping with our Moravian heritage, the Chaplain's Office celebrates the rich religious diversity of the Salem College community. We provide support for spiritual growth and wellness within today's global context. We encourage the pursuit of the journey which gives meaning to life, while also fostering understanding and respect among various faith traditions.
Website Link: https://www.salem.edu/spiritual-life/chaplain