WASHINGTON – Five members of the Georgetown University Athletics Department – three student-athletes and two administrators – attended the 2019 Black Student-Athlete Summit, held Jan. 9-11. The summit was hosted by the University of Texas at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, Texas. Georgetown football senior Ramon Lyons (Orlando, Fla. / Ocoee / West Orange) and sophomore Glen Waters (Dallas, Texas / Cedar Hill) as well as volleyball junior Margo Snipe (Washington, D.C. / Ridgewood [N.J.]) joined Executive Director of the Cooper Athletics Leadership Program Dr. Maya Ozery and Director of Business Operations Kevin Campbell.
 
During the three-day event, athletes, coaches, administrators, athletic directors and professors from around the country addressed issues ranging from the literacy development of black males, the prevalence of racial stereotypes in the NFL, mental health, athletic activism, and the impact of HBCUs.
 
The theme of this year's summit, which broke attendance records, was "The Awakening of the Black Student-Athlete."
 
Ramon Lyons, Football
"It was a tremendous experience. It was refreshing to see so many African-American leaders impacting their communities in something other than sports. The amount of connections and knowledge I gained during this conference is unparalleled and I recommend anyone who has the chance to go next year should 100 percent take that opportunity."
 
Margo Snipe, Volleyball
"The Black Student-Athlete Summit was unforgettable. It was an incredible opportunity to get to know the other Hoyas I went with and also get to know student-athletes from across the country. The best part was the feeling of empowerment I got from learning about how the black identity shapes the student-athlete experience and being able to relate to the other athletes I met. I took away so much that I hope to share and put to use on the Georgetown campus and later in life. I want to bring that feeling of empowerment I got at the Black Student-Athlete Summit to other students at Georgetown and anywhere else I might be."
 
Glen Waters, Football
"The Black Student-Athlete Summit was a great experience. Applying what I learned from former student-athletes will improve my experience in undergraduate and enhance my future after graduation."
 
Kevin Campbell
"My time in Austin at the 2019 Black Student-Athlete Summit was both insightful and empowering. Being given the opportunity to engage with our student-athletes, and hear from more than 40 qualified presenters discuss the significance of holistic development was great. I am very grateful to Dr. Maya Ozery for inviting me and the athletics department for supporting our student-athletes to attend this conference."
 
Dr. Maya Ozery
"Attending the Black Student-Athlete Summit was a transformational experience for our student-athletes, and having a group attend was another way to reflect our commitment to increasing positive outcomes for all of our student-athletes. Margo, Ramon and Glen are great ambassadors of our athletic department, and this was a unique opportunity for them to connect with peers from across the country, and reflect on how their identities play a role in their personal experience here on campus. This gathering allowed us engage in deep discussions with scholars and practitioners, and we extend our gratitude to the University of Texas Division of Diversity and Community Engagement for the professionalism of everyone involved in developing the summit."