Statement of VCU Athletic Director Ed McLaughlin on EEO Investigation Report

I fully support VCU’s commitment to diversity, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Diversity and inclusiveness are core values for me, too, and VCU’s diverse environment was one of the reasons my family and I chose to come here.

I am concerned about the impact the attention to this issue has had on a university that prides itself on its diversity – a university that holds diversity as a core value and that is considered a national leader in diversity.

I want to thank Dr. Rao for his support. His personal commitment to making VCU a leader in diversity inspired me to come to VCU and Richmond and inspires me every day in leading our coaches and student-athletes.

On a personal note, it has been heartbreaking to have a value I hold true to be so publicly questioned. People who know me best personally and professionally know how deeply I value diversity, fairness and integrity.

I am excited about the future of VCU, and I am dedicated to moving VCU Athletics and our student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff to an unprecedented, elite level of success in many areas, both on the playing field and in the classroom. One of those areas is diversity, and I look forward to working with VCU’s Vice President for Diversity and Equity, Wanda Mitchell, on some new initiatives in Athletics so that we can serve as a model across the college landscape nationally.