EAST STROUDSBURG -- Palm Beach Atlantic University Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans will serve as the seventh guest speaker in ESU Athletics' Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in College Athletics: A Call to Action webinar series. Lovely Evans will speak on Zoom on September 30 at 7:00 p.m.

"We're excited to have a very special guest from another NCAA Division II institution as our September speaker, which gives us a unique opportunity to partner with Palm Beach Atlantic University" said ESU Director of Athletics Dr. Gary R. Gray.

"I have known Courtney Lovely Evans since she worked at the NCAA national office and have followed her career as a senior level campus administrator and now as a fellow Director of Athletics. Courtney is nationally- acclaimed in our field and one who I know will bring an excellent perspective to causing positive change with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion in college athletics."

Lovely Evans was recently named the 2021 Women Leaders in College Sports Division II Nike Executive of the Year and has served in her current role since April 2019. She joined the athletics staff at PBAU as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations, along with serving as the athletic department's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).  She also oversaw athletic training, strength and conditioning, human resources business operations and also served as a sport administrator prior to being promoted to Director of Athletics.

She previously worked at the NCAA National Office as an Assistant Director in Academic and Membership Affairs, developing the Division II education strategic plan. In this role, she developed the Division II educational strategic plan. She served as a liaison to the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Division II Legislation Committee and the Division II Membership Committee.

Before her stint in Indianapolis, she served as the Assistant to the Director of Athletics at Georgia State University. A member of the athletic department's senior staff, Lovely Evans was responsible for managing the Georgia State University Athletic Association and organizing and planning athletic special events such as the University's inaugural football season.

"I am grateful for Dr. Gary Gray and his commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," said Lovely Evans. "These conversations and plans for action make our campuses, communities and the enterprise of college athletics a safe and welcoming environment for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to thrive. I look forward to sharing and learning from the attendees."

Prior to jumping into collegiate athletics, Lovely Evans worked in the non-profit sector as an event planner.

She earned her bachelor's degree in public relations from Valdosta State University where she was named the 2019 College of Arts Distinguished Alum and her master's degree in sport administration from Georgia State University.

For more information on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in College Athletics: A Call to Action speaker series and to view past presentations, visit esuwarriors.com/DEI.

Past presenters in Diversity Equity and Inclusion in College Athletics: A Call to Action

March: Muhamadou Kaba
April: Fan Yang
May: Miles Avery
June: Domineque Scott
July: Tricia and Kelsey Melfy
August: David Akinwande and Rece Bender