Washington Names Sheridan Blanford Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
December 02, 2020 | General
University of Washington Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) announced Wednesday that Sheridan Blanford has been hired as the department's first Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.Β
The newly-created position, which received initial funding from substantial donations from Head Football Coach Jimmy Lake and Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Hopkins, will have a dual reporting structure to Director of Athletics, Jennifer Cohen, as well as Rickey Hall, University of Washington Vice President for Minority Affairs and Diversity.Β
Blanford isΒ no stranger to Seattle and the UW after receiving her Master's Degree from Washington's Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership program and serving as a graduate assistant in the Tyee office.Β
"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Sheridan back to the Husky family and into this role," said Cohen. "Sheridan's passion and expertise in the area of DEI will have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Through feedback from our stakeholders it was clear that adding a senior-level administrator to focus on this work within our department was critically important. Thanks to the generosity of Coach Lake and Hopkins we were able to get this position off the ground and we are looking forward to the impact it will have for the years to come."Β
"I am thrilled that Sheridan Blanford has been appointed as the inaugural Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion," added Hall. "I look forward to working with Sheridan as she leads, develops, and implements best practices and programs that advances DEI in Intercollegiate Athletics."
SheΒ most recently served as the Director of Inclusion & Engagement at the University of Wisconsin β a position she was promoted to in 2018 after previously being hired as Wisconsin's Inclusion & Engagement Coordinator in 2017. SheΒ oversaw the development and sponsoring of specific student-athlete support groups, while also encouraging and supporting student-athletes' participation in campus, community and athletic programming. Blanford worked closely with University of Wisconsin staff members and community partners to develop and improve programming, mentorships and other opportunities related to issues of inclusion and diversity to enhance the overall student-athlete experience. She also led the strategic initiative that developed assessment tools to measure the department's effectiveness related to DEI.
"I am honored to join the Husky family at the University of Washington at this pivotal moment in our society where issues of diversity, inclusion and justice are more salientΒ than ever," stated Blanford.Β "I am grateful to be joining a team that is truly committed to setting the national standard for inclusive excellence. I am looking forward to leading in this vital role, and working alongside Athletic Director Jen Cohen, Vice PresidentΒ RickeyΒ HallΒ to create lasting impact, and ensure that UW is a place where all student-athletes, staff, alumni, and campus and community partners can thrive."
Β
Prior to her time in Madison, Blanford served as the Assistant Director for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), where she worked closely with all stakeholders from Presidents to student-athletes to oversee the conference's strategic plan. She served as the MIAC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and also worked closely with the Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion subcommitteeΒ which allowed her to create, purpose and facilitate programs and initiatives that expanded the support and investment of students from diverse, ethnic and cultural backgrounds across 13 different institutions.
The Aurora, Colo., native graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., in 2015 where she was a four-year member of the women's basketball team.
Additionally, in 2019, she was named as one of Wisconsin's 49 Most Influential Black Leaders by Madison 365. Blanford has attended the Learfield Minority Academy each of the last two years, serving as an alumni ambassador at the 2018 event, while Women Leaders in College Sports selected Blanford as a 2018 Rising Star Award winner in 2018. She also works as a freelance DEI consultant, providing strategy for companies, organizations and departments who are implementing plans that establish inclusive organizational culture.Β
Blanford will officially assume her duties on Montlake on January 11.Β
Β
The newly-created position, which received initial funding from substantial donations from Head Football Coach Jimmy Lake and Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Hopkins, will have a dual reporting structure to Director of Athletics, Jennifer Cohen, as well as Rickey Hall, University of Washington Vice President for Minority Affairs and Diversity.Β
Blanford isΒ no stranger to Seattle and the UW after receiving her Master's Degree from Washington's Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership program and serving as a graduate assistant in the Tyee office.Β
"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Sheridan back to the Husky family and into this role," said Cohen. "Sheridan's passion and expertise in the area of DEI will have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Through feedback from our stakeholders it was clear that adding a senior-level administrator to focus on this work within our department was critically important. Thanks to the generosity of Coach Lake and Hopkins we were able to get this position off the ground and we are looking forward to the impact it will have for the years to come."Β
"I am thrilled that Sheridan Blanford has been appointed as the inaugural Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion," added Hall. "I look forward to working with Sheridan as she leads, develops, and implements best practices and programs that advances DEI in Intercollegiate Athletics."
SheΒ most recently served as the Director of Inclusion & Engagement at the University of Wisconsin β a position she was promoted to in 2018 after previously being hired as Wisconsin's Inclusion & Engagement Coordinator in 2017. SheΒ oversaw the development and sponsoring of specific student-athlete support groups, while also encouraging and supporting student-athletes' participation in campus, community and athletic programming. Blanford worked closely with University of Wisconsin staff members and community partners to develop and improve programming, mentorships and other opportunities related to issues of inclusion and diversity to enhance the overall student-athlete experience. She also led the strategic initiative that developed assessment tools to measure the department's effectiveness related to DEI.
"I am honored to join the Husky family at the University of Washington at this pivotal moment in our society where issues of diversity, inclusion and justice are more salientΒ than ever," stated Blanford.Β "I am grateful to be joining a team that is truly committed to setting the national standard for inclusive excellence. I am looking forward to leading in this vital role, and working alongside Athletic Director Jen Cohen, Vice PresidentΒ RickeyΒ HallΒ to create lasting impact, and ensure that UW is a place where all student-athletes, staff, alumni, and campus and community partners can thrive."
Β
Prior to her time in Madison, Blanford served as the Assistant Director for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), where she worked closely with all stakeholders from Presidents to student-athletes to oversee the conference's strategic plan. She served as the MIAC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and also worked closely with the Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion subcommitteeΒ which allowed her to create, purpose and facilitate programs and initiatives that expanded the support and investment of students from diverse, ethnic and cultural backgrounds across 13 different institutions.
The Aurora, Colo., native graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., in 2015 where she was a four-year member of the women's basketball team.
Additionally, in 2019, she was named as one of Wisconsin's 49 Most Influential Black Leaders by Madison 365. Blanford has attended the Learfield Minority Academy each of the last two years, serving as an alumni ambassador at the 2018 event, while Women Leaders in College Sports selected Blanford as a 2018 Rising Star Award winner in 2018. She also works as a freelance DEI consultant, providing strategy for companies, organizations and departments who are implementing plans that establish inclusive organizational culture.Β
Blanford will officially assume her duties on Montlake on January 11.Β
Β
Friday night at our place. Youβre invited. #GoHuskies #collegefootball
Friday, October 10
Holdenreid capitalizes on the PK π
Thursday, October 09
fast. very fast. #GoHuskies #collegefootball #huskysoftiktok
Thursday, October 09
Gameday vibes π #GoHuskies #collegefootball #tailgate
Thursday, October 09
