Promoting Diversity in Sports Analytics

• Activity Number: 228 - Promoting Diversity in Sports Analytics
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 9, 2022 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Sports
• Author(s): Christien Wright* and Sameer Deshpande* and Rebecca Nugent* and Arielle Dror* and John Tobias*
• Companies: The Milwaukee Bucks and UW-Madison and CMU and Zelus Analytics and UNC Charlotte
• Keywords: diversity; inclusion; sports analytics; academic research; higher education

Abstract

Diversity has long been a major struggle in the field of sports analytics, where avenues of entry for women, people of color, and all other non-cis white male groups has been limited. Academic research and higher education provide important resources for promoting increased diversity in sports analytics; internships and entry level positions in sports data operations departments routinely require master’s level qualifications. This panel session will focus on discussing paths for fostering diversity in sports analytics through academia, and highlight the strides made in the field. Specific tools for using academic resources to promote diversity will be highlighted, and panelists who work in both academic and industry spheres will help provide context and visibility to this important issue.