CHICAGO – Six Fighting Illini student-athletes and three staff members proudly represented the University of Illinois at the 2025 Black Student Athlete Summit, held May 21-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the annual summit brought together more than 1,300 student-athletes, administrators, educators, and leaders from across the country to empower and elevate the experiences of Black student-athletes.
Illinois student-athletes in attendance included:
They were joined by staff representatives:
- Shanika Mungin, Assistant Director of Athletics, Student-Athlete Engagement
- Dr. Breanna Shamaila, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Sport Administration, Inclusion, and Student-Athlete Development
- Solomon Siskind, Coordinator, Student-Athlete Development
Each day of the summit was centered on a core theme:Â education and academics, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, professional development, and health and wellness. This allowed student-athletes to go through a holistic experience rooted in personal growth, community, and leadership.
Throughout the summit, the Illini group engaged in a dynamic lineup of keynote speeches, workshops, and panel discussions covering topics such as leadership development, mental health, financial empowerment, professional branding, and social justice. Featured speakers included Super Bowl champion and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, ESPN host Jess Sims, and former NFL running back Jeremy Hill.
The Summit Cypher kicked off the week with high-energy, TEDx-style talks and small-group discussions on navigating transitions, overcoming adversity, and cultivating belonging. Additional programming highlights included financial education with Invesco QQQ, a graduate school and career networking fair, and a community-building outing to the Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty WNBA game.
Student-athletes also participated in Pro Day, a signature experience in which attendees engaged in two-way conversations with former student-athletes who are now professionals across industries including broadcasting, law, politics, tech, entrepreneurship, brand partnerships, medicine, and executive leadership—gaining career insights and expanding their networks.
Meanwhile, staff took part in the Prolific Impact Lab, hosted by the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Council of Excellence (DIECE). This two-day professional development track featured sessions designed to support and strengthen the work of athletics staff through community- and learning-driven dialogue.
"Dr. Leonard Moore and his team consistently deliver an intentional, transformative experience that challenges and uplifts both student-athletes and professionals," said Shanika Mungin. "This year, our students explored identity, engaged with some of the brightest minds across industries, and built a powerful peer network that will serve them far beyond their time on campus. Opportunities like this are essential, and I'm proud that Illinois continues to lead the way in prioritizing these pivotal moments of growth."
Illinois student-athletes reflected on how the summit left a lasting impact on their personal, academic, and professional development.
Delaney Mosley described the summit as "eye-opening and filled with community and connections," especially valuing the opportunity to have intimate conversations with hundreds of other female student-athletes from across the country.
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt shared how meaningful it was to connect with student-athletes from different sports, divisions, and upbringings, while also deepening her bond with the fellow Illini on the trip.
"The Black Student-Athlete Summit had a significant impact on my professional and personal growth," said Malachi Hood when reflecting on the impact of the summit on his growth. "It taught me how to embrace my identity and remain confident in who I am, even while navigating environments where we are not the majority. Living and working in such spaces can sometimes feel discouraging, but this event reaffirmed that there are Black professionals thriving across industries. It also emphasized the power of unity; when we support one another, fill in the gaps, and lift each other up, we are capable of achieving anything in the business world or professional sports."
Vivian Campbell called the experience monumental.
"During such an influential part of our lives, this summit has shown me how to embrace and use the power behind being a Black woman in many areas of my life," Campbell said. "It opened my eyes to the community around me—especially on campus—and reminded me that I'm not navigating the world alone, but with a network of like-minded people who share similar experiences. I've learned the strength that comes from channeling those areas of support."
The summit serves as a vital platform to explore identity and belonging, promote academic and athletic success, and foster inclusive excellence in collegiate athletics. For Illinois student-athletes, it also offered valuable opportunities to network with industry professionals, connect with peers from across the nation, and return with ideas and inspiration to strengthen their campus community.
