Richard Lapchick

Internationally recognized human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, scholar and author Richard Lapchick is often described as “the racial conscience of sport.” He brought his commitment to equality and his belief that sport can be an effective instrument of positive social change to University of Central Florida where he accepted an endowed chair in August 2001 to lead the DeVos Sports Business Management Program.
Lapchick is a columnist for ESPN.com and the Sports Business Journal • has written 16 books • given more than 2,800 public speeches • named the Florida Public Citizen of the Year • has been the recipient of numerous humanitarian awards including the • Lifetime Achievement Award for Work in Civil Rights from the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow/Push Coalition • inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame of the Commonwealth Nations in the category of Humanitarian along with Arthur Ashe and Nelson Mandela • honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NY City Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Basketball Retired Players Association • has received nine honorary degrees • He is listed in Who's Who in America • Named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sports • Was one of 200 guests personally invited by Nelson Mandela to his inauguration after leading the American sports boycott of South Africa from 1975 until the end of apartheid.