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The Rooney Rule & Whats Next
(Click on the image above to access the webinar)
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY & DUQUESNE ATHLETICS PRESENTS
"THE ROONEY RULE & WHAT'S NEXT:
EQUITY & ACCESS IN ATHLETICS & BEYOND"
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
1:00 PM (EST)
 
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS HERE!



WEBINAR DETAILS
Moderated by Ken Gormley, President of Duquesne University, and Brian Baptiste, La Salle University's Director of Athletics, the one-hour event will be streamed via YouTube, with a live question and answer session. All university constituents, inclusive of faculty, staff, students and alumni from the Atlantic 10 Conference member institutions, are welcome to join. 

To watch the live event, watch live on this page or click on the above YouTube player to be directed to YouTube. (Advance registration is not required.)
 

THE “ROONEY RULE”
The National Football League established the “Rooney Rule” in 2003, named for legendary Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney and his effort to recruit more minority coaches in major league football. 
The rule requires league teams to interview minority candidates for senior football operation jobs. It was a stunning statement of commitment in its day.  

With the nation experiencing the most dramatic call for equity in a generation, the Rooney Rule and similar efforts deserve more attention in a changing national landscape. What might that example lead to for college athletics, higher education, the future workplace, and for all that is next? What can we learn? How can we take action?


The Atlantic 10 Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Duquesne University and Duquesne Athletics are proud to host Jim Rooney (author of A Different Way to Win, an account of his father’s—Dan Rooney—life and leadership) and N. Jeremi Duru (Professor of Law at American University and expert in sports law) in a discussion with Duquesne President Ken Gormley and Brian Baptiste, the athletic director at La Salle University, co-chairs of the Atlantic 10 Commission for Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

 “We are justly proud of what the Rooney family has done in Pittsburgh and the ways Dan Rooney modeled a commitment to diversity and inclusion long before the rest of the country recognized its central importance,” says Gormley. “Our conversation can build on that action and consider what we can do in our own universities and cities. Universities shape our regions, and with actions for equity and inclusion needed more so now rather than statements, how will we lead? This exciting discussion will be an inspiration for what is next.” 

The conversation is the first in an ongoing series of events on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion to be presented by A-10 member schools throughout academic year 2020-2021.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMISSION 
 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Photo of Jim Rooney
JIM ROONEY		 JIM ROONEY, one of Dan and Patricia Rooney’s nine children, worked alongside his father for decades. Jim’s personal and professional view of his father’s long career comes from having assisted his father with relationships at the State Department and the White House during Dan’s time serving as Ambassador to Ireland and, also, being involved in the football enterprise and support of the Rooney Rule.

In addition to being an author, Jim is a business owner, consultant, facilitator and national speaker. He is co-partner of Rooney Consulting, which assists organizations with enhancing culture, building strong teams and growing businesses. Jim founded FirstLink Research and Analytics, a world leader in building business analysis for technology transition.

He has launched, led and developed several initiatives, working across the academic, government and technology sectors.  He has advised on projects for the U.S. Federal Government; several foreign governments; corporations such as Henry Ford Health Systems, BNY Mellon, Koppers; and the University of Pittsburgh, University of Cincinnati and University of Miami.

Jim holds an Organizational Consultin g certificate from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science and Communications from Boston College. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh, The American Ireland Funds and Gilmour Academy.

Photo of Jeremi Duru
N. JEREMI DURU		 N. JEREMI DURU, is Professor of Law at Washington College of Law, American University, where he teaches sports law, civil procedure, and employment discrimination. Among the nation’s foremost sports law authorities, Duru is the author of co-author of several of his field’s premier texts, including Advancing the Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL (Oxford University Press), which examines the NFL’s movement toward increased equality of opportunity for coaches and front office personnel. Duru represents the Fritz Pollard Alliance of minority coaches, scouts, and front office personnel in the National Football League and has previously represented sports industry professionals in employment matters involving other leagues, including the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball.

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