The Daily Bulletin Archive

Distinguished alumnus and NCAA vice president of communications Bob Williams, '79, will host two on-campus discussions open to faculty, staff, students, and alumni on Thursday April 12.

“The College Sports Landscape: Separating Fact from Myth”
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Bulger Communication Center North

As the chief communications officer and primary spokesman for the NCAA, Williams will discuss the mission of the association, how the organization is governed, college sports reform initiatives, and the challenges of executing the communications strategy for the world’s leading college sports governing body. His emphasis will focus on leading a communications effort in the digital age. A question-and-answer session will follow his remarks.

“The Power of Diversity in Higher Education”
3:00–4:30 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library 208

Williams will lead a compelling discussion with a focus the NCAA’s long history of promoting diversity within and among its approximately 1,200 member colleges and universities, conferences, and organizations. Why does the NCAA believes so deeply in diversity and inclusion? A recent joint report from the American Council on Education and the American Association of University Professors noted that diversity education “extends the meaning of personal, social, and moral growth and improves the capacity of college and universities to achieve their missions.” By a margin of more than three to one, those who have an opinion say that diversity programs in colleges and universities raise rather than lower academic standards. In addition, high-performance teams most often include diversity of social and life experiences, educational paths, and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, highly diverse and inclusive organizations perform better and excel at higher levels than those that are not diverse. A question-and-answer session will follow his remarks. This session is sponsored by the President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity and the Buffalo State NCBI Coalition Building Team.

Members from the campus community are encouraged to attend. Any questions can be directed to the Buffalo State Alumni Association, ext. 6001.