IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa athletic department announced Tuesday that Lew Montgomery will serve in an interim role in support of the department's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Montgomery’s appointment comes after assistant athletics director for diversity, equity and inclusion Broderick Binns accepted a job outside the university. Montgomery will serve as a member of the athletic department’s senior staff and assist department leadership, coaches and athletes in activating diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Montgomery has been the university's Finance and Operation Department’s associate director for diversity, equity, and inclusion and employment experience. He was a four-year letterman (1989-92) on the Hawkeyes' football team.
Montgomery, who is Black, has held senior leadership roles in human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion and community relations for several companies.
The athletic department has increased its diversity, inclusion and equity efforts since a 2020 investigation found evidence of racial bias against Black players in the football program.
Iowa hired an outside lawn firm to review the program after numerous former players, most of them Black, spoke out on social media to allege racial disparities and mistreatment. Their activism came as protests against racial injustice began around the nation after the death of George Floyd and after attempts to raise concerns inside the program resulted in only minor changes.
The review said some of the football program’s rules “perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity.”
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