Episode 22: Beyond the Game: Voices from the Black Student Athlete Summit

Ep 22: Beyond the Game: Voices from the Black Student Athlete Summit

Episode Date: November 6, 2025

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Reiland Rabaka is joined by DaWon Baker, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Associate Athletic Director for Impact & Strategic Engagement, along with three �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students and student-athletes who recently attended the 2025 Black Student Athlete Summit in Chicago. Together, they share what it means to be part of a national gathering that celebrates Black excellence, amplifies voices, and addresses the challenges and opportunities facing Black students at predominantly white institutions.

The guests reflect on their experiences at the summit. Discussing community, leadership, identity, and what it means to bring their authentic selves into academic and athletic spaces. They talk about the importance of mentorship and representation, and how initiatives like the summit create networks of support that extend beyond sports or campus life.

DaWon Baker frames the discussion around purpose and belonging, emphasizing how athletics can serve as a bridge to broader conversations about equity, access, and social change. As he notes, “We’re not just talking about performance. We’re talking about purpose. These students are building community, shaping culture, and defining what leadership looks like for a new generation.”

About the Black Student Athlete Summit��

The Black Student Athlete Summit (BSAS) is a premier national conference designed to support and uplift Black collegiate student-athletes and their allies. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Leonard N. Moore at the University of Texas, the annual event brings together student-athletes, university administrators, coaches, mentors, industry leaders, and speakers for a powerful mix of leadership development, academic enrichment, wellness education, and career preparation. Over multiple days, participants engage in keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking sessions, and a day devoted to “pro-day networking” with professionals in business, sports, media, law, and academia.

More than 1,300 attendees typically gather from institutions across the United States to explore themes of identity, purpose, resilience, and transition from sport to life beyond competition. The Summit emphasizes that success for student-athletes extends far beyond the field, court, or track, advocating for holistic development and long-term impact.

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