National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

Award for Diversity and Inclusion

The award, established through a partnership between the NCAA and the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA), is designed to recognize practices, initiatives and behaviors that embrace diversity and inclusion within intercollegiate athletics. NCAA or MOAA member institutions, athletics departments and conference offices are eligible to receive the award.

Key characteristics of award winners may include:

• Focusing on the importance and the benefits of managing diversity, equality and promoting a culture of inclusion.
• Raising and deepening awareness of equality and diversity issues, from both an employment and service provision point of view.
• Providing mentoring opportunities and programming internally or externally.
• Supporting inclusion- and diversity-related educational and professional development opportunities.
• Implementing creative and inclusive work policies to support the needs of a diverse staff.
• Fostering an environment that celebrates differences.
• Contributions in the last year for innovative initiatives that affect the organization internally or externally.

Stan Johnson Distinguished Service Award
The Stan Johnson Distinguished Service Award acknowledges and honors the effort of a MOAA member who strives to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity in its multitude of forms.

2023 - Julie Work, NACDA
2022 - China Jude, Denver Broncos
2021 - Peggy Davis, Virginia State
2019 - Mario Moccia, New Mexico State
2018 - Sharon Beverly, Beverly & Associates
2017 - Stan Johnson, MOAA
2016 - Dr. Bernard Franklin, NCAA
2015 - Lee McElroy, RPI
2014 - Sean Frazier, Northern Illinois
2013 - Alfreeda Goff, Horizon League
2012 - Clint Bryant, Georgia Regents
2011 - Myles Brand, NCAA
2010 - Mike Cleary, NACDA

Charles Whitcomb Service Award - Apply Today
The MOAA Charles Whitcomb Service Award recognizes and celebrates the individuals and administrators that foster diversity and inclusion within the intercollegiate athletics community.

2024 - Cara Holdsclaw, Columbia University
2023 - Ian Moses, LEARFIELD
2022 -  Dr. Ashley Baker, Michigan State University
2021 - Thomas Harris, University of Arizona
2020 - Dan Mahony, Southern Illinois University
2019 - David Williams, Vanderbilt (posthumously) & Karl Benson, Sun Belt Conference
2018 - Bob Minnix, Washington State (posthumously)
2017 - Charles Whitcomb (posthumously)

Founders' Grant
The Founders' Grant was introduced to assist MOAA members with their attendance for the MOAA Symposium. In an effort to support the development of its members in accordance with the mission and objectives of the Association, MOAA is proud to offer two grants, to one male and one female member of MOAA, each in the amount of $1,000.

2025 - Lisamar Perez-Santiago, Barry University; Jovan Williams, Maryville University
2024 - Shelby Yung, Pomona-Pitzer College; Jennifer Jacobs, Augustana University; Therno Diallo, Rutgers University; Ruth Janelle Nguyen, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee; and Kelly Shepherd, West Virginia State University
2023 - Jeff Johnson, University of Rhode Island, Ashleigh Jones, DePauw University, Gale Nelson, Florida Memorial University, Deja Parker, Colgate University and Olivia Winkfield, Rochester Institute of Technology. 
2022 - Erika LeFlore, Florida Memorial University and Justin Robinson, Maryville University
2021 - Raven Campbell, Louisiana State University and Michael Pineda-O'Donnell, James Madison University
2020 - Alexis Guess, University of North Texas, LaWanda Miller, Fayetteville State & Nicholas Sailor, Providence College
2019 - Ryan Stanberry, University of Washington & Amber Thomas, Hiram College
2018 - Mar Bactol, University of Puget Sound, Gail Barksdale, Sonoma State University & Darnell Smith, University of Central Oklahoma
2017 - Marcus Brown, Indiana University & Taunita Stephenson
2016 - Terrence Lollie, Binghamton & Angie Torain, University of the Incarnate Word
2015 - Will Baggett, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl & Melisa Cruz, CSU Bakersfield
2014 - Taurian Houston, postgraduate Intern & Sandra Merchant, Cincinnati

Rudy Keeling Postgraduate Scholarship (Learn More About Rudy) 
The Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) offers one $2,500 postgraduate scholarship to a MOAA minority administrator who plans to pursue an advanced degree with the intention of furthering his/her administrative pursuits within the intercollegiate athletics industry. The inaugural award was given in 2014.

As the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner, Rudy Keeling was the first African-American ever to head a major sports conference, a position he held from 2007 until his retirement in January 2013. He was also a former member of the MOAA Board of Directors.

To make a donation to the fund, click here.

2024 - Precious Birdsong, Vanderbilt University
2023 - Marcus Brown, NCAA and DaDa Willis-Gregory
2022 - Toni-Ann Derby, West Coast Conference and Shanika Mungin, University of Illinois
2021 - Karen Carty, Bradley University
2020 - Dawnyell Fletcher, Vanderbilt University
2019 - Chris Jones, Temple University
2018 - Elizabeth Reyes, University of Arkansas
2017 - Juliana Smith, University of Oklahoma and Stephon Fuqua, The Ohio State University
2016 - Darnell Smith, University of Central Oklahoma
2015 - Natasha Oakes, Missouri Western State University
2014 - Andrea Williams, Big Ten Conference