McLean County Times

Illinois State Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs has announced the hiring of Amari Dryden as the department's new Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) and Student-Athlete Development. Dryden joins Illinois State after working in athletic departments at Vanderbilt University and Ohio State University.

In her new role, Dryden will lead efforts to create a diverse and inclusive environment within the Athletics Department. She will oversee DEI&B initiatives and programming as well as student-athlete development. Her responsibilities include cultivating relationships with various campus organizations such as ISU Career Services, Student Counseling Services, International Students and Scholar Services, ISU's Multicultural Center, and the Dean of Students.

"We are excited to bring Amari to Illinois State University in this important position within our department," said Dr. Jeri Beggs. "Amari's passion and enthusiasm for supporting student-athletes in both of these areas, as well as her educational focus, set her apart during our search."

Dryden’s DEI&B duties will involve implementing training sessions for student-athletes, coaches, and staff while monitoring updates on the department's NCAA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Review. She will also oversee the Student-Athlete "Redbirds4Change" committee and serve as the department’s NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion designee (ADID).

In terms of student-athlete development, Dryden aims to equip each athlete with skills necessary for success beyond their collegiate experiences. This includes creating leadership workshops, life skills events, professional/career development programs in collaboration with internal and external partners.

"I want to thank Dr. Jeri Beggs, Cindy Harris, Joe Klausner, and the rest of the Illinois State Athletic Department for welcoming me to the Redbird family," said Dryden. "I can't wait to move to Normal, connect with everyone in Athletics, and continue building campus partnerships to enhance the student-athlete and staff experience."

Before joining Illinois State University (ISU), Dryden served as Director of Career Development at Vanderbilt University's Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success since January 2022. There she coordinated a summer internship program among other career development initiatives tailored specifically for student-athletes.

At Vanderbilt University (VU), she co-advised VU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) career committee which promoted career workshops across its athletic body. Additionally; she designed a four-day career tour in Los Angeles featuring panels with alumni entrepreneurs alongside taking students/staff members attending Black Student-Athlete Summit hosted by USC back May 2023.

Dryden previously worked at Ohio State University's (OSU) Student-Athlete Support Services Office where she supported graduate/professional school applicants from among OSU athletes through reviewing resumes/personal statements along presenting topics like conflict resolution/diversity/inclusion/intersectionality during semester Bridge programs aimed towards incoming freshmen/transfers athletes alike

She began her tenure at OSU serving Graduate Administrative Assistant/Career Counselor roles within Buckeye Careers counseling over ten clients weekly individually guiding them through major selections/planning grad/professional schooling preparations critiquing job application materials conducting mock interviews etc., encouraging/guiding diverse students ranging first-years post-docs developing long-term strategies fulfilling purposes reaching fullest potentials

As graduate assistant at OSU additionally spent time working Multicultural Center Native American/Indigenous Intercultural Initiatives Practicum co-advising Native OSU Cohort assisting leaders planning meetings developed/co-led workshop titled “Harmful Representations Indigenous People Mascots” spreading awareness negative impacts Native mascots community

Dryden earned Bachelor Science degree Business Administration Ohio State University 2018 later earning Master Higher Education & Student Affairs degree 2022 writing thesis college choice academic athletic experiences Native American student-athletes

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