NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College Athletic Department has announced the formation of the Connecticut College Athletes of Color Coalition (CCACC). Two women’s water polo athletes are among the inaugural 17 individuals named to the CCACC as Stephania Lopez (Sr., Chicago, Ill./Saint Ignatius College Prep) and Maria Sell (So., San Mateo, Calif./Aragon) made the list.
Overseen by Ebony Manning, the school’s Title IX Coordinator, and head women’s basketball coach Jackie Smith, the newly created group’s mission is to provide support and empower all student-athletes of color to safely share their respective experiences in and out of the game. The coalition is designed to amplify voices, establish a social network, and foster dialogues on diversity and inclusion in athletics throughout the Connecticut College sports teams.
“I have the great opportunity to serve as the liaison between the Division of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and the Connecticut College Athletes of Color Coalition, and it is my pleasure to work with a group of student-athletes who are committed to enhancing the experience for student-athletes of color on campus,” said Manning. “Sometimes it can feel lonely to be the only or one of few BIPOC students on an athletics team, so it is wonderful to have a group of students who will serve as a support system for student-athletes of color. I am excited to see what they are going to do this semester and for years to come.”
The group currently consists of 17 student-athletes from the men’s basketball, women’s rowing, sailing, men’s soccer, men’s squash, women’s squash, women’s tennis, women’s track & field, and women’s water polo programs. Denise Bonilla (squash), Angela Cao (squash), Veronique Dhont (track & field), Leslie Gonzales (squash), Juan Hurtado (squash), Malissa Lindsey (track & field), Lopez (water polo), Alexander Lorenzo-Cruz (squash), Tanya Mendoza (squash), Alireza Mohammadi (soccer), Meera Narayanan-Pandit (tennis), Austin Nwafor (basketball), Justin Nwafor (basketball), Julia O’Connell (rowing), Halle Paredes (rowing), Sell (water polo) and Charlotte Williams (sailing) are the first members.
The coalition already has several goals established which are listed below.
• Educate
• Serve as a support system for our student-athletes of color and provide a safe place to share experiences and thoughts
• Work with athletic administration to develop a plan to diversify the Connecticut College athletic program and enhance the athletic experience of student-athletes of color
• Increase the number of athletes of color who are recruited
• Research local organizations that would benefit from our support
• Develop programming and events
• Serve as mentors for those athletes who are first-years and/or compete on teams without much diversity
“I believe that the formation of the CCACC is long overdue, and I am hopeful that this opportunity will allow athletes of color at Conn to be heard, understood, and uplifted,” explained Lopez, a senior women’s water polo captain who has been a three-time All-America selection in her sport. “While we have a lot that we would like to accomplish, the biggest thing for us this year is to establish ourselves as a coalition and create a space where athletes of color from all teams can connect.”
Smith is excited to serve as a mentor to the student-athletes as they look towards fulfilling their goals and has been impressed with what they have accomplished so far.
“The CCACC is a group of extremely impressive student-athletes that I am lucky to work with,” stated Smith. “They have done an amazing job of creating a safe space for their fellow student-athletes of color to converse and share experiences. In a very short amount of time, they have organized themselves and are focused on making an impact on this campus. Their motivation is inspiring, and I hope to amplify their voices and support them the best that I can.”
“We know that there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and we understand that change won’t come overnight,” added Lopez. “However, we are all committed to help improve the culture of athletics at Conn so that every athlete of color – regardless of their sport, race, class, sexuality or gender identity – feels supported and represented.”
Information courtesy Connecticut College Sports Information
