STAFF TAKE

Be the Change

YOU

Want To See

- Dawon Baker

Dawon Baker

UNL Diversity & Inclusion Director

Serving as the Diversity and Inclusion Director for the University of Nebraska Athletics department, Baker works closely with MSAC and explains his role in the movement as an advisor to the student athletes that organized the group.

As the director for diversity and inclusion, Baker is in charge of initiatives for Nebraska athletics staff, such as the Diversity and Inclusion Summit, Next Steps outreach, Leadership Academy, and Husker Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“A lot of it is programming for our student-athletes, staff and coaches and looking at different policies we have to make sure they are equitable, make sure that we’re serving diverse populations,” Baker said.

MSAC’s goals and requests through the Legacy Over Image initiative for a more equal and diverse athletics department lined up with the work that Baker does, making it easy for him to step in as a guiding force.

Baker talked about how, after a town hall meeting, one student-athlete decided that something needed to change, and that they wanted to make it happen and approached Baker with his idea in order to get his advice.

“ If you want to do something, you come up with the idea to plan and we’ll help you in any way that you see fit and that works... And they came to me and said, ‘Hey, here’s our group here’s what we want to do, what’s the best way to go forward?’”

Being a director in the athletics department, Baker is able to advise them on the best routes to take to get what they need done and know where they can go to get their questions answered.

“I really just try to act as a bridge between the group and whatever person, department, etc.,” Baker said. “I think it’s important to give them the change they want to see.”