For decades the power of sport to transform communities, alter mind-sets, breakdown barriers and act as a catalyst for social change has been used with varying degrees of success.

From the roles of Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens in promoting equal rights, to Billie Jean King, the trailblazing tennis star who led the movement for female players to earn equal prize money, to (a still jobless) Colin Kaepernick taking a knee to protest police brutality; athletes and sports organizations have long acted as barometers of social pressures and transformation.

Which is why the University of Vermont, Grossman School of Business is proud to present Steve Phelps ‘85 in a special virtual event. On Tuesday, March 9 at 3pm, Phelps, the current president of NASCAR, will deliver our annual Hoffman Family Business Lecture and participate in a Q&A session moderated by UVM Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant.

His talk titled “Challenges of Organizational Leadership. Lessons Learned From a Seminal Season at NASCAR: The Critical Role of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Managing Through the Pandemic” is free and open to all. Details of how to join the event can be found here go.uvm.edu/hoffmanspring21

As NASCAR president, Phelps leads a sporting organization undergoing some substantial changes as of late. Early in June 2020, the premier stock car racing association instituted a total ban on Confederate flags at its events. The move came in the midst of America's reckoning with the horrifying death of George Floyd, and NASCAR's sweeping decision to ban the Confederate flag came as a shock to many. 

Reactions to NASCAR’s decision were mixed as support and vitriol dominated the news. Many fans at the time said banning the Confederate flag at racetracks would drive them from the sport forever, and they didn’t want to hear about social justice. And at the eye of the storm was NASCAR president, and UVM ’85 alum, Steve Phelps.

Join us and hear what he has to say Tuesday, March 9 at 3pm. Details of how to join the event can be found here go.uvm.edu/hoffmanspring21