CLEVELAND – The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) partnered to select a Division II MOAA director of athletics to serve as an at-large member on the D2 ADA Board of Directors for a three-year term. The individual selected to serve the membership is Winston-Salem State University Director of Athletics, Etienne Thomas. Â
"We are grateful to partner with MOAA with this newly created position within our Board structure and look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come," said D2 ADA President and Cal State Monterey Bay, Director of Athletics, Kirby Garry. This is a positive and necessary step to ensure our Board reflects our intention to be more diverse, inclusive, and representative of the coaches and student-athletes that we serve at our institutions."
The D2 ADA Board of Directors goal is to serve the membership with authenticity and work effectively throughout the year. We strive to ensure our Board will continue to be…
- Diverse – individual leaders reflect the values and beliefs of Division II in both viewpoints and cultural backgrounds to strengthen discussion and decision-making;
- Inclusive – all Board members are encouraged to bring their perspectives, identity and life experiences with all Board members being equally engaged and invested; and
- Equity-focused – this allows the Board to step back and help prioritize resources and strategies to help deepen the organization's impact and relevance in the industry.
"MOAA values the partnership with other affiliates who are intent on increasing representation of diverse leaders," stated MOAA President and Fort Valley State University Director of Athletics, Renae Myles Payne. "We have a deep bench within the MOAA membership from Division II. I know the D2 ADA Board had a difficult task in selecting the leader that would fit their current Board make-up. Congratulations to Etienne Thomas! She is an exceptional leader and will represent MOAA and Division II well."
About D2 ADA: The D2 ADA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of Division II athletics directors. For more information about the D2 ADA, please visit www.div2ada.com. The D2 ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 59th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
