Athletics and DDEEA Student Programs: Intentionally Building Community Across Campus
Day One: November 13, 2024 | 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Industry
Session Description
Using Howard Thurman’s philosophy of finding common ground based on shared experiences and self-exploration, the presenters will show how they intentionally created a relationship with each other and built a bridge from the Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO) to Athletics. Assistant Athletics Director Dr. Danielle Pulliam and CeO Director Dr. Julie Janiak will walk through their steps, including identifying a problem, creating potential solutions, and then bringing in partners and key stakeholders. Attendees will practice these steps and critically consider how they can apply this framework to their role and department. Howard Thurman believed, “…that meaningful and creative shared experiences shared between people can be more compelling than all of the faiths, fears, concepts, ideologies, and prejudices that divide; and if these experiences can be multiplied and sustained over a sufficient duration of time, then any barrier that separates one person from another can be undermined and eliminated.”
Session Objectives
- Discuss ways to build relationships across campus
- Gain awareness of Howard Thurman’s philosophy and framework related to self-exploration and shared experiences
- Identify strategies to leverage resources and relationships across campus
Speakers
Julie Janiak
Dr. Julie Janiak serves as the director for the Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO) at UW–Madison. She has worked with underrepresented minority students, including first generation and Pell-eligible students since her first TRIO position in 1998. Dr. Janiak has a demonstrated record of successfully securing U.S. Department of Education Federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants, managing regional and multi–site TRIO SSS programs, and providing leadership in the field. Immediately prior to becoming the CeO Director, she served as Director of Student Support Services at UW-Whitewater, where she also co-led the Southwest Regional Collaborative Aspire Planning Grant, the DFWI Task Force, and the Math Institutional Change Team. Dr. Janiak earned both a doctorate degree in Educational Administration and Leadership and a master’s degree in College Personnel from Indiana State University, and her bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders-Audiology from UW–Oshkosh.
Danielle Pulliam
Dr. Danielle Pulliam is the Assistant Athletic Director for the Leadership and Inclusion unit with the Wisconsin Athletics Department at UW–Madison. The unit, which supports all Badger student-athletes and staff, focuses on educating and empowering individuals through self-exploration, shared experiences, critical thought, and leadership development. Additionally, Dr. Pulliam leads the organization’s Community, Connection, and Belonging focus area as part of its strategic plan. Prior to joining UW–Madison, she led the Student-Athlete Services department at Loyola University Chicago where she was tasked with overseeing academic support, student-athlete development, and implementation of inclusive practices. A former Division I student-athlete herself, Dr. Pulliam earned a master’s degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Memphis and an EdD in Global Sport Leadership from East Tennessee State University.
