Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech Athletics and Cox Communications are partnering to host a Breakfast & Learn event on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in the Student-Athlete Performance Center.
The event, which is open to department employees and community partners, will feature a panel discussion on "Embracing Our Culture." Panelists in attendance include:
• J.D. Myers II, Senior Vice President and East Region Manager of Cox Communications
• Dr. Abraham (Billy) Hardee, Virginia Tech football and baseball alumnus
• Marci Byers, Virginia Tech volleyball head coach
• Derek Jones, Virginia Tech football defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach
• Matt Johnson, Virginia Tech football student-athlete
Reyna Gilbert-Lowry, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Inclusive Excellence and Alumni Engagement, will moderate the panel. Among the topics covered will be: celebrating Black voices, having a sense of belonging, embracing and nurturing our individual differences, and using the student-athlete platform to make a positive impact.
"Virginia Tech Athletics and Cox Communications are two organizations committed to fostering inclusion and embracing diversity," said Gilbert-Lowry. "I'm excited about the opportunity to spotlight Black student-athlete and staff voices and support ongoing conversations about diversity from a place of understanding and awareness."
Continental breakfast will be provided beginning at 8 a.m. Programming will begin at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks and updates from Whit Babcock, Virginia Tech director of athletics.
"Cox has a 125-year legacy of proactively advancing a culture of inclusion, diversity and equity. Not only does it align with our values, it is unquestionably the right thing to do," said Myers, II. "We're grateful to partner with Virginia Tech to engage student-athletes and continue to advance this important conversation."