Leonard Named Recipient of 2020 AVCA Diversity Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dartmouth volleyball assistant coach Zoe Leonard was one of the recipients of the inaugural American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Diversity Awards. Leonard was selected by all of the Ivy League coaches to represent the conference.

The Diversity Award program was developed in June of this year by Iowa State University head volleyball coach and past AVCA president Christy Johnson-Lynch and her colleagues from the Big 12 Conference. The issues of race relations in America, the incidences of social injustices and the grips of a global health crisis have placed a needed emphasis on being intentional and mobilizing efforts that lead to substantive change for society and the volleyball community.

"I am so honored that the Ivy League not only nominated me for this award but committed to the larger challenge of pushing to support the AVCA Diversity Awards program this year," Leonard said. "I believe it is a testament to the conference's commitment for intentional change in the volleyball community and society at large. I am grateful for this opportunity to be able to professionally develop as an individual in the volleyball coaching world, but also for the chance to work together and collaborate with others across the country on how to make the volleyball community a more equitable space."

For the 2020 AVCA Diversity Award program, recipients will participate in a series of educational, developmental and relationship building experiences in conjunction with the Virtual Convention from Dec. 16-19 (with all Diversity Award winners being invited to in-person programming at the 2021 AVCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio).

Recipients will also be integrated into the AVCA Diversity Award winner alumni program that consists of continuing education, relationship building and mentoring upon completion of the initial programming.

"I am honored that the Ivy volleyball coaches have come together to support such a great cause to help grow the sport and give an opportunity to young coaches to develop, network and learn," Dartmouth head coach Gilad Doron said. "I am thrilled for Zoe, who is the first-ever Ivy-sponsored Diversity Award recipient. I know how much she loves the sport and how passionate she is about coaching volleyball. This is a great opportunity for her to learn from the best coaches in the country and build her knowledge and connection to the sport she loves so much."

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