LSU Athletics Contributes to 2026 Carnegie Recertification Effort
One of our department’s commitments is geared towards the prevention of sexual and domestic violence and to create a healthy and respectful athletics program culture. To that end, our LSU Athletics’ Council for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACPSDV) has partnered with a number of internal and external organizations to advise leadership on policy and education that ensures accountability and transparency. One of our ACPSDV partners is Sarah Becker, PhD who serves as the director of LSU’s Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership (CCELL) . Under the direction of Dr. Becker, CCELL submitted the university’s application for recertification of its Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in April 2025. The classification recognizes universities that maintain widespread, longstanding, high-quality community partnerships that use institutional knowledge and resources in collaboration with public and private sector actors to "enrich scholarship, research and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good" (Carnegie 2025). LSU has held the classification since 2008.
The 2026 cycle marks the first time Athletics appears in LSU’s Carnegie Community Engagement documentation for this distinction. Becker believes, “this partnership with Athletics strengthened the case for recertification.”
LSU Athletics was highlighted as to how our efforts connect to the community in ways that embody its land-grant mission, that exhibit mutual benefit and respect, that amplify voices external to the institution, and that showcase best practices for collaborative endeavors.
When asked to describe institutional systems and structures that address equitable access and opportunity in community engagement for students, faculty, staff, and community partners, CCELL stated that, “LSU Athletics incentivizes community engagement through its Athletics Culture and Engagement Council, whose purpose is to create a transformational athletics community that engages with off-campus communities meaningfully.”
An example of resources that were made available to community partners for community engagement, CCELL offered that, “LSU Athletics, The Joe Burrow Foundation, Our Lady of the Lake Health, the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, and other community partners collaborate to offer an annual Planting Seeds of Hope event facilitated by former LSU football player and ESPN celebrity Ryan Clark. The event connects mental health professionals to one another and to the public, provides mental health resources to attendees, and helps normalize open discussion of mental health wellness.”
CCELL provided examples of public statements supportive of community engagement with the quote from Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health & Wellness: “LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health and Wellness Shelly Mullenix said the following, when speaking about LSU Athletics’ new annual collaborative Planting Seeds of Hope event, which brings together mental health professionals, community leaders, student and professional athletes, and area residents for resource sharing aimed at normalizing conversations about mental health: ‘The response to our first event was incredible. Clearly the need for greater recognition and real solutions for struggles in mental health is shared by many in our region.’ She added, ‘We expect this year’s [February 2025] event will continue to break barriers and make connections that help our community heal.’
Recent innovations in study abroad, created and supported collaboratively by Ms. Kenyatta Walker, Ms. Carole Walker, Jordin Westbrook, Coach Kim Mulkey, Coach Brian Kelly, Dr. Sarah Becker, and the Office of Global Engagement were a strong highlight in the application. “CCELL’s collaboration with the Office of Global Engagement and LSU Athletics led to the university’s first study-abroad service-learning programs for LSU Football (in Senegal) and LSU Women’s Basketball (in Greece and Croatia).”
LSU Athletics and Tiger Life was highlighted for its use of the community engagement tracking system to coordinate community involvement.
LSU Athletics has more deeply woven service into its co-curricular practices through large- and small-scale initiatives and structured community involvement. Recent opportunities for students and staff to engage meaningfully with Baton Rouge communities include Thankful Tiger, an annual month-long giving event where staff/students can donate clothing/gifts for local children and community organizations; Halloween BooZar, an annual event where area children interact with student-athletes at themed booths for a family-friendly event fostering positive relationships between LSU Athletics and the Baton Rouge community; and MLK Day of Service, organized by the Black Student-Athlete Association (BSAA) and Tiger Life, where students/staff can volunteer at a host of community sites. Previous year’s events include helping at Cat Haven, a local animal shelter; creating MLK-inspired murals with the Walls Project, and volunteering at organizations such as Front Yard Bikes, Girls on the Run, and Empower 225.
These events showcase LSU Athletics’ commitment to holistic development of student athletes and professional development for staff, encouraging them to cultivate lifelong values of empathy, teamwork, leadership, and a strong sense of civic engagement. We are thankful for Dr. Becker’s continued support and engagement with LSU Athletics!