She/Her | Nefertiti A. Walker, PhD | Professor | Author | Deputy Vice President. Writing on culture, leadership, equity, sport business . Tweet≠endorsement
Before you watch the 2024
@WNBA
Draft, please read this article by colleagues
@laurenhindman
,
@ajhanaikeaton
, and me: WNBA set the standard for fan inclusion in social -- by letting fans drive via
@sbj
Can Chris Evert not be a Serena hater for one night? I don’t want to mute her but I will. We the people, are asking her for one night of not being a bitter sounding hater.
#SerenaWilliams
The range of WNBA draftees’ fashion is indicative of the diversity of the league. The range from masculine to feminine and everything in between and on the periphery is a thing of beauty. The W is one of the few sports leagues where people can be their whole selves and it shows.
Mark Davis, owner of the Las Vegas Aces, is showing what can happen when an owner treats women’s sports like a business investment instead of a charitable expense. He’s earnestly invested in this organization.
#WNBAFinals
I am excited to share that I have been promoted to Full Professor at
@McCormackUMass
@IsenbergUMass
@UMassAmherst
. This has always been my goal, since beginning my career as an academic. 😎🎉🧵 1/5
Sexism: when the most decorated professional athlete in Phoenix history, on the best professional team in Phoenix history isn’t included in a played out, corny social activation post because.... she’s a woman, on a women’s team.
#DoBetter
The people attempting to downplay Dawn Staley’s halftime adjustments by saying “but her assistant coaches” are telling on themselves. You’re saying everything we already know abt the anti-Black sexism in womens basketball & college athletics. You also don’t understand leadership.
Look!! You can be a mom and a championship level coach! Adia Barnes just put on an absolute coaching clinic, then held her baby. Now she’s doing post game comments.
#HireWomen
#PayWomen
#TrustBlackWomen
#ncaaW
A person once told my colleague here at UMass that I was a bad hire and must have only gotten an offer because I was black and female... school-wide research award, school-wide teaching award, nassm research fellow, tenure, and three promotions later... he looks like an idiot. 💁🏽♀️
I feel fortunate to serve the
@UMassAmherst
community under the leadership of Chancellor
@KSubbaswamy
. There are so many students, faculty, and staff doing impactful work, and I look forward to continuing our momentum towards inclusive excellence, rooted in equity and justice.
I'm happy to announce
@NefWalker
has been named
@UMassAmherst
's vice chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Nef brings insightful and strategic leadership to this office, and I am pleased she's taken on this permanent role.
Unpaid internship stans have never been broke. Broke ain’t fun or “worth it”... broke sucks. Broke hurts. And when you’ve been really, really broke, you will do whatever you can to not be really, really broke again, including not choosing a career in sports. Just pay people.
The shirts of USWNT stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press were the best-selling Manchester United jerseys—including those of any male players—in the three days after their signings, per
@MikeKeegan_DM
👏
It’s always ok to just stop. Even in the biggest moment of your life, it’s ok to stop and do what’s necessary to protect your mental, emotional, psychological health. I’m glad Simone chose herself. Sometimes that takes more courage than any other option. 🐐
#Olympics
Over 2 Million for women’s sports is a big deal. For context, outside of the NBA Playoffs, the WCWS now has the next 2 largest audiences on ESPN since the NFL Draft in April.
@enJoytheglobe
It’s her acting confused that Serena thinks she can win this tourney. Bihhhh she’s the best ever. How are you confused that the best ever has unmatched confidence. If she lost one eye she would still be the best ever and would have a chance. They never speak this way about men 🐐
Parents, as a former middle school county champion, high school all American, college all conference and all American honorable mention, and WNBA top 40 pre draft pick…IGNORE THIS ADVICE. Take that vacation if you have the privilege to, it will do your kids wonders.
If you are currently working in sports, and have ever worked an unpaid/volunteer internship, please comment below.
@kwamagyemang
and I are writing a pop press article, and the news outlet would like to confirm that this is actually a thing.
Our Vice President-Elect is a woman who is Black & Indian, and has a multiracial blended family. She graduated from a HBCU and is married to a Jewish man. So many people will see themselves in her and her family. What a moment for our country! Diversity wins.
#KamalaHarrisVP
Just a reminder that there is no neutral position, when it comes to racism. Either you’re racist and your actions uphold racist ideals, or you are antiracist and your actions support undoing racist ideals, structures, institutions, and cultures.
@KizzyPhD
Salon Monet on Newbury street. Happy to connect you with the owner and lead stylist. Black woman owned. Maybe the only black owned business on Newbury street. Blowouts and everything in between welcomed!
This is tweet is flat out WRONG. Not only did Sabrina Ionescu break Pac12 records, she’s the first player in NCAA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds. Why is sport so intent on erasing women? Why is sport so sexist? Smh.
@wagesofwins
Write McKinley Wright IV in the books, he’s made history! 📖
@kin_wright25
is the only
#Pac12Hoops
player EVER with 1,600 PTS, 600 REB & 600 AST.
📺 ESPNU
📲
@ib88keys
@ReignOfApril
Incredibly disrespectful to the GOAT. Would we say that about LeBron or Brady?!? HECK NO. Chris Evert cannot control her own racism and sexism, even in the biggest of moments.
This article resonated with me because at every promotion from Assistant Professor to Vice Chancellor, I have had White folx tell me to my face and to my colleagues that I have only progressed this far bc I’m a Black woman. 1/3
Humbled to be asked, and happy to serve. Excited to officially begin my work as the Associate Dean for an Inclusive Organization.
@VernaMyers
says it best, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance” 💃🏽🕺🏻 Lets dance,
@IsenbergUMass
!
@NefWalker
has been named Associate Dean for an Inclusive Organization! Hiring a full-time chief diversity officer will expand the scope of Isenberg’s inclusion efforts. Read more:
This is powerful because what Coach Kara Lawson is telling them not to give away, abusive coaches take and demand. These words reverberated can undo a lot of harm in college coaching. Give this a listen.
"Don't give me the power to affect your self-esteem and who you are as a person."
Duke WBB coach Kara Lawson shares some words of wisdom 💙
(via
@DukeWBB
)
Center the needs of Black folx with empathy and grace. Black folx have been carrying the weight of this trial for months. The guilty verdict does not remove the trauma and exhaustion. If your Black students or colleagues need space, give them space. Give them time to recover.
There should be soooo many stories written about this WNBA championship. First married couple to win a championship as teammates in Sloot and Quigley. Candace Parker returning home to win a championship. Copper stepping into stardom.
#WNBAFinals
Where are the folks screaming at Sha'Carri, "Rules are rules!"... Check out my
@washingtonpost
article below, which discusses the anti-black sexism that informs the differences in how rules are applied.
Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson questioned why Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to continue competing at the
#Beijing2022
Games amid a doping charge, months after a positive test for cannabis derailed her own Olympic dreams 1/5
One thing I did not expect when I decided to become a professor, is the pure joy I feel when my students get jobs, promotions, start companies, or share their personal wins and joy with me. I had no clue I’d get so much happiness from their joy.
#grateful
The guy sitting next to me on my flight to Atlanta asked if I’d like for him to put on a mask, since I had on a mask. I told him no. But I really appreciated the offer. Kindness costs nothing to offer, but is worth so much to the one receiving it.
#RoadtoNASSM
Woke up filled with love and joy, and ready to celebrate this last year in my 30s. What should I do in year 39? What are some things that I should do before I turn 40, next May 12, 2023?!? Happy birthday to meeeee 🥳! Spread some love today! 💜
Imagine if a professor or administrator said this to a local news reporter… this guy had the brazen audacity to be so comfortable in his arrogance that he said this on national tv. WILD! Paid millions to be this negligent. Also, showing us his mindset. It’s a football game, bro.
Offer students grace during this difficult semester. More than a few times, I could see the angst on students’ faces, so I offered grace (via extension, generous evaluations) for the entire class. No need to single anyone out. It will not jeopardize the integrity of your course.
This is the type of weight she carries… all while doing the impossible on the mats. And people had the AUDACITY to question her decision to step away from a few events this summer. Smh
"To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse," Simone Biles gives her opening statement at a Senate hearing on the FBI's handling of the Larry Nassar investigation.
My Black pride is queer, and my queer pride is Black. We cannot disentangle what is uniquely and perfectly intertwined as one.
#HappyPrideMonth
🎉👸🏾🏳️🌈✊🏾
I appreciate the outpouring of support to me from people far & near. But i don’t need it. I am only doing my job. PLEASE do check up on Black students. Please listen when they say things are racist and change them immediately. Please seek more knowledge on racism in higher Ed.
Normalize firing sport commentators or analyst who say sexist, racist, or universally bigoted words, like f*g. If your job is to use words, then saying the wrong words should be worthy of dismissal.
Lets ensure we do not assume all students, faculty, and staff have equal access to technology, and connectivity. As we move courses online, and towards remote work, lets not forget the inequities that many face. Lets be agile, but inclusive. Act quickly, but also thoughtfully.
I’m absolutely speechless. We have our first woman Vice President
@KamalaHarris
who is also our first Black and Indian, multiracial VP, and a President-Elect
@JoeBiden
who believes in serving ALL Americans, and bridging the divide. America we deserve this! Diversity wins.
Creepy. Unprofessional. Misogynistic: words that come to mind in hearing this reporter flirt with Caitlin Clark on her first day on the job. Dr.
@laurenhindman
and I conducted research on this exact sexist behavior. It is deeply embedded in the culture of professional sports. 1/2
Reporter: 🫶
Caitlin Clark: "You like that?"
Reporter: "I like that you're here."
Caitlin: "Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.”
Reporter: "Start doing it to me and we'll get along just fine."
Caitlin: 😳
(via
@IndianaFever
/ YT)
Regardless of your political stance, this is a monumental moment. As a Black woman, this gives me feelings of hope,pride, and joy. Representation matters. Also, she eats mediocracy for breakfast. So “someone” should be worried. via
@NYTimes
It’s been eleven years living in New England and I still say hello and speak to everyone I pass while walking my dog, despite only about 40% speaking back. Can’t take the southerner out this woman.
#HeyYall
👋🏾 🐕🦺
USMNT Stan who wrote this, reveal yourself! This is nonsense. They won a medal, and some looney toon is suggesting the golden era of winning medals is over?!?! How Sway?
A Message from Vice Chancellor Nefertiti Walker: A Disturbing Increase in anti-Black Racist Incidents | Office of Equity and Inclusion - Beyond words, next week, will share current work & immediate action to ensure our Black community can be safe & thrive.
Check out this boss, colleague, friend, daughter, partner, dog mom, teacher, mentor, professor, AUTHOR, Dr.
@Doc_Melton
! She wrote a book on sport and sustainability. This is the first of many books for the most well read person I know. Congratulations, Nico! 🎉
#McCormackProud
Please give our newly published article a read, if you are interested in making sport a more equitable industry. A must-read for organizations that hire unpaid interns. - Getting an Internship in the Sport Industry: The Institutionalization of Privilege
Now every basketball program needs to follow in their footsteps. No more XYZBasketball v. XYZWBB. Men do not own basketball and MBB is not the default. All college programs need to either be XYZWBB or XYZMBB. Ready, set, GO!!
Checkout our latest article: What Is Blackness to Sport Management? Manifestations of Anti-Blackness in the Field in: Journal of Sport Management - Ahead of print
@JohnNathanielS2
@kwamagyemang
@cchenDr
@Doc_Melton
Today, I wore this shirt as I talked about intersectionality and the impact VP-Elect Kamala Harris will have on how we approach inclusion in business. I apologized to anyone I offended. But the energy felt appropriate.
Today began w/ teaching grads at 8am in Amherst and ended w/ me teaching MBA grads from 6pm to 9pm in Worcester. Grueling. But, for the first time this semester, both classes went overwhelmingly well. I've taken lots of L’s this semester, so I’m gonna sit with this W for a moment
Y’all really doing this again?!? ...cmon ESPN. Do better. I’m not even correcting y’all. Just do better. Language matters. Y’all are in the business of storytelling and should understand the importance of written word. Either you’re willfully ignorant or you’re willfully sexist.
Grades are officially submitted for my two graduate courses. This was the most difficult semester of my career. But I survived. And I feel stronger, smarter, and more prepared for future storms. Now I will spend two weeks resting, in all the ways I choose to rest.
The
@WNBA
players are the most courageous players of any American sports league. They consistently and loudly risk their livelihood, in the name of social justice. Also, I’m loving this version of Sue. She’s showing allyship with her actions, not her words. Great idea
@S10Bird
We are
@wnba
players, but like the late great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision.
@ReverendWarnock
has spent his life fighting for the people and we need him in Washington. Join the movement for a better Georgia at
Im lurking in the cut, waiting to see how many Black WBB players are offered professional representation and get paid in the new world of NIL contracts. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t call out the hypocrisy. Lots of folx made statements in support of
#BlackWomensEqualPayDay
👀
Take a look at this important piece by
@kagawacolas
. This is important insight into how pay inequality led to a generational superstar having to play in Russia - Pay inequality led Brittney Griner to Russia. We must fix it - Los Angeles Times
#BlackintheIvory
is getting the best job in the country for my field (I’m biased 🤷🏽♀️), and having a person who I thought was a “friend” (White male) tell my colleague that I must have received the offer bc I checked a lot of boxes, and that I was a terrible hire.
Why is everyone always trying to dampen Caitlin’s fire??? She is entertaining. Let her scream, get an attitude, fight with the refs, talk her talk… she is an entertainer. Let her entertain and stop trying to make her some prim and proper hooper. That ain’t her.
#CaitlinClark
Very excited to announce that later in April,
@wagesofwins
and I will publish our first book together, Slaying The Trolls! Why the Trolls are Very, Very Wrong about Women and Sports. Here is a teaser of what’s to come!
Do not dull your blackness, queerness, or femininity. The world needs all of you. Your job, school, and family, they need all of you, regardless of whether they know it yet, or not.
#WomensHistoryMonth
#BlackLivesMatter
#LGBTQPride
Today is not business as usual. An enormous attack on human rights has occurred and you should take time to process and live in this moment without the stress of continuing on, business as usual. Take the time you need. This is a heavy day.
It’s quite paternalistic to say CC needs protecting. She’s big for her position & tough as nails. It’s interesting to see so many men leading these “protect CC” narratives. I’m feeling like I need to write this one up, there is something bigger than basketball happening here.
As a Black queer woman born to an immigrant, married to a white woman, and caretaker of her disabled mom & brother, I hope I can be a beacon of hope for others. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, there are real life haters. But there is so much love and support when you find your community 5/5
We need to have a discussion about the extraordinary talent and work ethic it takes to last for THIS long in THIS sport. There is no hiding behind teammates to collect another medal. *Pause* You MUST be at the top of your game every moment of competition. Excellence personified
This is the best I got, a picture of a flyer. 😂 But I’m overjoyed to be heading back to my alma mater, The Swamp, for an invited lecture. See you soon
@ufspm
!
#Gatornation
#homecoming
So proud of this team!!! So incredibly proud of this team: players, coaches, support staff… some of us saw this possible from the very first game of the season. The
@UMassWBB
team is NCAA Tourney bound!
Finally, adding a delayed send on emails that I respond to and send on nights and weekends. I do not want to be the cause of anyone's angst. If I need you nights/wkds, I will text or call you. But I should never need you nights/wkds. I should have done this years ago.
Excited to join this fantastic group of women, as we disuss ways to spark uncomfortable conversations on race in sport. Please join us and the
@FemaleQuotient
for a discussion on how we can tackle systemic inequalities to inspire action:
If you want to see more women head coaches win championships in the
#NCAAW
tourney, please participate in our research, or pass our flyer along to those who could contribute to our work centered on making women’s basketball more inclusive.
#NCAAW
#NCAAChampionship
#UconnVsSC
Djokovic smashes his racket and the commentators say he “had to get out his frustration” and the crowd gives him a standing ovation.
Serena smashes her racket and, well, we all know the rest.
#USOpen
The NFL is who they’ve always been. I should be floored by this. But, instead, it’s just more evidence confirming my beliefs that one of the Blackest spaces in all of sports is also one of the most violently oppressive spaces. The NFL is anti-Black. I want to be wrong, but I aint
The NFL says it will halt the use of “race-norming” — which assumed Black players started out with lower cognitive functioning — in a $1 billion settlement of brain injury claims. The practice had made it harder for Black players to qualify.
Joyous Juneteenth! To my African American & Black peoples, eat good, drink good, laugh hard, & rejoice in the steadfastness of our ancestors. Remember them. Thank them. Be with them. And let’s keep fighting for our humanity while pulling others along as we do. 1/3
#Juneteenth
So happy for Dawn Staley. She has persevered to bring South Carolina WBB from the bottom of the SEC to two championships in less than a decade. Her defensive scheme was perfection. She found a way to create points by using inside presence to dominate boards & get 2nd & 3rd shots
You are not the problem. Calling out structural and institutional racism, sexism, and ableism makes you courageous. Protecting your voice is the work of administration. Shifting culture and dismantling institutional -isms is the work of many, and the duty of leadership.
The culture of silence in academia is so pervasive that speaking about systemic problems is considered rebellious. This framing implies that you are the problem, which is absolutely not true. Sharing your experiences is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Congrats to my guy
@mattkatz49
on receiving the
@IsenbergUMass
Outstanding Researcher Award!!! The highest research honor in our School! Matt had 6 total publications, including 3 JSMs as first author, 1 SMR, 1 SMQ, and a business education journal- all in 2019!!!
#McCormackProud
There is a strong case that
@nnekaogwumike
is the most important labor rights and civil rights figure in 21st-century sports. Reproductive rights are human rights. Fertility access for WNBA players supports all families and all gender identities.
WNBA players will get free access to fertility testing services and more reproductive health support in a deal arranged by
@nnekaogwumike
. This will be a huge help for family planning.
The worst part of sport, is when someone like Andrew Luck retires from the physical & mental abuse he’s taken from football, and we hear anything but admiration for his self-awareness & unselfishness. Walking away from your love & millions of dollars ain’t easy. Courageous he is.