Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

February 19-21, 2025 • Howard University

Hosted by Bethune Cookman University and University of Central Florida

Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference, Against the Odds

About the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

The educational and professional opportunities at the Emerging Recreational Sports Leadership (ERSL) Conference fall within the spectrum of broad-based to in-depth — from mock interviews with established collegiate recreation administrators to presentations on the changing landscape of recreational sports careers in our current economy.

In 1992, the office of intramural sports at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale established the first ERSL Conference to encourage a strong future of leadership for minority students in the field of collegiate recreation. The goal of the ERSL Conference has ever since been to provide minority students who are interested in careers in collegiate recreation with the tools and network connections needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

With educational programming, opportunities for mentorship, and a platform for career networking, this unique conference empowers young minority students with the skills and knowledge that lay the foundation to building meaningful careers in the field of collegiate recreation. The ERSL Conference encourages diversity in our association in an effort to better reflect the populations and demographics that NIRSA members serve.

Conference room with participants sitting in chair towards front of the room where speaker is presenting
  • A mix of live and on-demand sessions will be launched from February 1-19, 2021.
  • Registrants will have access to all recordings through April 2, 2021.

  • Mock interviews will help you prepare for finding the right career path.

Presentation Proposals

Theme: Rebuilding a better future together through community and shared values

Presentation proposals should align with NIRSA’s eight core competencies, and the Program Committee has selected the following three competencies to focus on for this upcoming ERSL Conference:

  • Programming
  • Philosophy & Theory
  • Personal & Professional Qualities

NIRSA professional and student members who submit proposals and are among the first to have their proposal selected will serve as lead presenters and will receive a courtesy time preference. This means they’ll have the option to select the day and time they would like to present, which is definitely a reason to get excited! The deadline for these priority submissions is Friday, December 3.

You don’t want to miss out on this fantastic chance to share your knowledge! Submit a presentation proposal by the Friday, December 10 deadline for all submissions!

We are currently accepting presentation proposal applications!

Presentation proposals will be accepted through November 4, 2024. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Presentation proposals will be open soon!

The presentation proposal deadline has passed. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Conference Schedule

Schedule subject to change
Last Updated: January 11, 2024

Registration

Registration Pricing & Details

Pricing details will be posted in October 2023.

Early Bird Price on or before January 8, 2025 Regular Price after January 9, 2025
Student Premier Member* $95 $110
Student Member $110 $125
Student Nonmember $130 $145
Professional Premier Member* $145 $160
Professional Member $170 $185
Professional Nonmember $210 $225
Associate Member $205 $235
Associate Nonmember $345 $385

*Individual members who are on staff of an institutional member school are considered Premier Members. Students who attend an institutional member school are considered Student Premier Members.

The term “member” refers to those with a current NIRSA membership both at the time of registration and throughout the conference. If you are unsure about your individual membership status or your institution’s membership status, please send an email to membership@nirsa.org.

Preconference Activities

The deadline to register for preconference activities is Friday, February 14, 2025.

HBCU Summit

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
11:00am-2:00pm

HBCU Summit Initiatives:

  • Enhance engagement of professionals and emerging professionals in collegiate recreation 
  • Surface opportunities, challenges, and issues that HBCU’s face in collegiate recreation 
  • Create awareness among non-HBCU professionals regarding the similarities and differences that HBCU programs have to other programs 
  • Provide additional opportunities for professional development 
  • Foster opportunities for graduate assistantships and develop pipelines for emerging professionals in the field 
  • Increase engagement within NIRSA through institutional and professional memberships that will provide resources to assist HBCU programs 

Cost: Free & includes lunch (Register by February 14, 2025 to guarantee a boxed lunch will be provided for you)

National Mall Visit

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
8:00am-12:15pm

Join colleagues on a true Washington D.C. experience by visiting the National Mall, including a visit to the Martin Luther King statue, the Abraham Lincoln statue, and a trip to the top of the Washington Monument. ERSL Committee members will guide attendees on this trip, taking the metro as we explore the Nation’s capital. Please be aware that there is a 25–30-minute walk to the nearest metro station, you’re encouraged to eat breakfast and bring snacks. Dress comfortably for walking, as this is an outside activity in February. Transportation, and a box lunch are included. There is a maximum capacity of 100 for this event. 

Cost: $40 per person on/before February 14, 2025

National Museum of African American History and Culture Tour

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
8:30am-1:15pm

In the Nations hub for museums, The museum of African American History and Culture hosts about 17 current exhibitions. Please be aware that there is a 25–30-minute walk to the nearest metro station, you’re encouraged to eat breakfast and bring snacks. Dress comfortably for walking, this is an inside activity. Transportation, and a box lunch are included. There is a maximum capacity of 50 for this event. 

Cost: $40 per person on/before November 18, 2024

Conference Hotel

Courtyard Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol

1325 2nd St NE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20002 • (800) 321-2211 Website Map & Directions 

Rates & Reservations

February 18-22, 2025

ERSL Room Rate

  • $179+ tax per night with breakfast voucher for one person
  • $169+ tax per night without breakfast voucher included

Attendees can make reservations online. Reservations need to be made no later than Friday, January 24, 2025, to confirm the discounted group rate. 

NIRSA encourages all Conference attendees to reserve their hotel accommodations within the NIRSA room block. NIRSA relies on strong room block usage to secure ample meeting space, increase negotiation leverage for future institutes, and offset event expenses.

Roommates

Looking for a roommate? The best way to match with a roommate is to post that you are looking for one in the 2025 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference Connect Community; once registered you’ll be added to the community. 

Airport

The best airport to fly into is Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA). It is about 15-20 minutes from DCA to the host hotel. 

Apply for a Scholarship to Attend the ERSL Conference

The NIRSA Foundation Scholarship Endowment provides 12 scholarship opportunities to students and professionals working in campus recreation at a HBCU, in honor of the 20 individuals from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities who convened NIRSA’s first Annual Conference in 1950. The Gartenberg endowment is also graciously funding 2 scholarships for ERSL this year. Eligible individuals are invited to apply by November 20 for their chance to have their ERSL Conference registration fees covered. Applicants will be notified via email of their selection status by December 20, 2024.

Application deadline: November 20, 2024

NIRSA Foundation

Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award

Learn about the award and how to nominate your colleagues rooted in honoring innovative leadership toward the achievement of substantial improvements of minorities in the field of collegiate recreation. 

Nomination deadline: December 2, 2024

Calvin Diggs

Candice Douglas, Western Kentucky University 
2024 Herman Williams Award recipient 

Special thanks to the 2021 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Committee

  • Candice Douglas, ERSLC Co-Chair, Western Kentucky University
  • Kevin Martin, ERSLC Co-Chair, University of California-Riverside
  • Charles Judkins
  • Corbin Ross, UCLA
  • Anja Shelton, Austin Peay State University
  • Trevon Walker, Texas State University
  • Deja’Nay Gilliam, University of California-Davis
  • Chrystina Wyatt

The 2021 ERSL Conference is a NIRSA CEU Approved Provider Program. The program(s) identified with a CEU value meet the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Registered Collegiate Recreational Sports Professionals (RCRSP) designation. RCRSPs are responsible for tracking CEUs earned. Email registry@nirsa.org with questions.

ERSL Conference group photo

Sponsorship Opportunities

Contact

For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Learning, Brittany Rejda.