The Mid-American Conference is hosting an inaugural Women and Minority Forum July 28-29 at Detroit’s Ford Field for league minority and women coaches and administrators.

Session topics include Title IX, national professional development and mentoring programs, dealing with minority student issues and working with executive search firms. Black Coaches and Administrators Executive Director Floyd Keith, NCAA Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Charlotte Westerhaus and ESPN commentator Mike Gottfried are among the panelists and featured speakers.

Though the idea for the forum came from a recommendation made in 2006 by the NCAA’s Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee, MAC Associate Commissioner Dell Robinson said league presidents wanted to launch a program specific to the MAC.

“The forum was developed by our MAC Council of Presidents to enhance diversity initiatives in the Mid-American Conference,” he said. “Our presidents wanted to start something within the MAC so we can address our issues. We wanted to localize the national issues and see how we can effect change. We also wanted to integrate what is happening at our institutions with their diversity programs.”

In addition, Robinson said he wants the forum to serve as a call to action to get more of the league’s coaches and administrators involved as participants and mentors in NCAA and other national programs.

For more information or to register for the forum, contact Aimee DuPree’-Chambers at 216/566-4622, ext. 316, or e-mail achambers@mac-sports.com.