NEW YORK – Columbia Athletics is proud to announce the formation of We Roar Together, an initiative commissioned by Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, Peter Pilling to address and reaffirm the commitment to diversity, racial justice, equity and inclusion within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education. Columbia Athletics' We Roar Together Committee is chaired by Cara Holdsclaw, Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations and Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame Football Alumnus Ted Gregory '74CC, the Director of Diversity Initiatives and Talent Retention in the Office of Alumni and Development.

The We Roar Together Committee is responsible for leading and developing programs dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity through the creation of space for courageous conversations on topics of racial justice and human rights, continuous inclusion and anti-racist training, education, awareness and advocacy, and strengthening our processes for recruitment and retention of under-represented student-athletes, coaches and staff. In addition, the committee will work toward a goal of cultivating an environment where student-athletes and employees of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality and disability status are supported, embraced and celebrated. The committee comprises Columbia personnel across the department and University, including, but not limited to: head and assistant coaches, athletics trainers and sports medicine personnel, senior and junior athletics administrators as well as representatives of offices across campus. The committee will also engage student-athletes to serve on subcommittees by the end of the year.
 
Formed in October, the committee has already planned several We Roar Together initiatives. Some initiatives that have been executed include #CULionsVote, a campaign to get 100% of all eligible student-athletes registered to vote ahead of the 2020 election and a department wide community engagement campaign to serve those in Washington Heights and Harlem this holiday season.
 
"We Roar Together is one of the most important projects we will undertake in Columbia Athletics. The diversity, racial justice, equity and inclusion committee has done excellent work in a short period of time," Pilling said. "I appreciate the committee's efforts thus far to create meaningful programming to educate and move our department forward. Having a diverse and committed group of people on the committee will create informed and impactful change for our student-athletes, staff and entire Lion's community."
 
If you have any questions about the We Roar Together Committee, please contact roartogether@columbia.edu.
 
We Roar Together Founding Committee Members
Cara Holdsclaw, PhD – Senior Associate Athletic Director, External Affairs – Committee Chair
Ted Gregory – Director, Diversity Initiatives and Talent Retention – Committee Co-Chair
Cemi Abreu – Assistant Athletic Trainer
Scott Alwin – Head Heavyweight Rowing Coach
Erica Aresco – Associate Athletic Director, CFO – Subcommittee, Hiring, Retention and Engagement
Michael Aufrichtig – Head Fencing Coach
Aja Barrett – Administrative Assistant
Brett Boretti – Head Men's Baseball Coach
Jim Bolster – Head Men's Swimming Coach
Kevin Burton – Associate Athletic Director for Compliance – Subcommittee Chair, C.A.R.E.
Christopher Cox – Assistant Director of Athletics Annual Fund
Simon Cleary - Assistant Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach
Derek Davis – Head Archery Coach
Katie DeSandis – Head Field Hockey Coach
Lauren Dudziak – Assistant Director of Intramurals, Club Sports, and Camps
Desmar Gomes – Assistant, Athletics Development
Amanda Goodwin – Athletics Ticket Manager – Subcommittee Chair, Civic and Community Engagement
Megan Griffith – Head Women's Basketball Coach
Daniel Ireland – Head Coach Men's and Women's Track & Field, Cross Country
Maggie Johnson – Associate Director of Athletics Development
Ryan Larsen – Assistant Football Coach
Emily Maury – Development Coordinator
Chelsea Raleigh – Director of Marketing
Arielle Robinson – Assistant Director of Enrichment Services
Greg Rosnick – Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Matthew Scally – Associate Athletics Director for Intercollegiate Sport Programs
Anne Marie Skylis – Director of Sports and Cubs Camps, Assistant Director of Physical Education
Marquise Stancil – Assistant Men's and Women's Trak & Field and Cross Country Coach - Subcommittee Chair, Black and Indigenous, People of Color Student-Athlete and Staff Experience and Success