Grow

Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

Coming in February 2025 

Hosted by Bethune Cookman University and University of Central Florida

Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference, Against the Odds

About the 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 proposal applications! The deadline to submit your proposal is Wednesday, December 6, 2023. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Submit your presentation proposal before December 15, 2022!

Presentation proposals will be open soon!

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

Conference Schedule

Time Agenda
11:00am-2:00pm HBCU Summit
1:30pm-5:00pm Preconference Museum Tour at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
5:00pm-6:00pm Registration
6:30pm-8:00pm Opening Keynote, Herman Williams Award Ceremony
Time Agenda
7:00am-8:30am Registration/Check-in
9:00am-11:50am Session blocks 1-3
12:00pm-1:15pm Take a Student to Lunch Break
1:30pm-4:00pm Session blocks 4-6
6:30pm Conference Social
Time Agenda
7:00am-8:30am Registration/Check-in
8:15am-8:50am Mock Interviews
9:00am-11:50am Session blocks 5-7
12:00pm Closing Remarks & Giving of Flowers

Schedule subject to change
Last Updated: January 11, 2024

Registration

Registration is open!

Registration Pricing & Details

Pricing details will be posted in October 2023.

Early Bird Price on or before January 11, 2024 Regular Price after January 11, 2024
Student Premier Member* $90 $105
Student Member $105 $120
Student Nonmember $125 $140
Professional Premier Member* $135 $150
Professional Member $160 $175
Professional Nonmember $200 $215
Associate Member $195 $225
Associate Nonmember $335 $375
Preconference: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute $30 $35

*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 Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

HBCU Summit

Thursday, February 15, 2024
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 January 31, 2024 to guarantee a boxed lunch)

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Tour

Thursday, February 15, 2024
1:30pm-5:00pm

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding of the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham. Museum ticket, transportation, and a box lunch are included. There is a maximum capacity of 40 for this event. 

Cost: $30 per person on/before January 11, 2024 | $35 per person January 12-January 31, 2024

Conference Hotel

Hilton – Birmingham Downtown at UAB

808 20th St S • Birmingham, AL 35205 • 205-933-9000 • Website • Map & Directions

Rates & Reservations

February 14-17, 2024

ERSL Room Rate

  • $159+ tax per night without continental breakfast
  • $169+ tax per night with continental breakfast

Attendees can make hotel reservations online or call 1-800-HILTONS (1-800-445-8667) and request the NIRSA ERSL: Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference group rate. Reservations need to be made no later than January 25, 2024, 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 2024 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference Connect Community; once registered you’ll be added to the community.

Airport

The best airport to fly into is the Birmingham International Airport (BHM). It is about 15-20 minutes from BHM to the host hotel and university.

Apply for a Scholarship to Attend the ERSL Conference

The NIRSA Foundation Founders Endowment was established in honor of the twenty African American Founders of NIRSA. The Founders Endowment supports registration scholarships to attend NIRSA educational events, including student and professionals’ registration for ERSL. Applications are open now, the deadline to apply is November 21, 2023. Applicants will be notified via email of their selection status on the week of December 18, 2023.

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. 

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

Contact

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