DENVER
During the month of February, the University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation will catch up with eight former black student-athletes, featuring their successes after graduation. 
 
Former Denver women's basketball student-athlete Nnenna Akotaobi graduated from the University of Denver following the 2008-09 campaign. Akotaobi remains in the top-10 of the Denver record books in career games played (7^th – 120). In her junior season in Crimson and Gold, Akotaobi played in all 30 games, averaging a career-high 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds.
 
"My time at Denver was both formative and challenging, and has driven a positive direction for my personal and professional life for more than a decade," Akotaobi said. "DU helped me calibrate my values on diversity/equity/inclusion, and shaped me as a leader who cares about community and connections - experiences I gained in our intimate campus environment.  Despite having grown up so close to campus (Thornton, Colo.), my time at DU was so radically and culturally different from my hometown and school life, and it forced my growth and maturation as a young adult. DU has also gifted me some of the richest friendships I've had in my life (from teammates to classmates)!"
 
In her professional career, Akotaobi is the founder and principal consultant of 122 Consulting Group LLC, a boutique consulting firm specializing in creating strategic and end-to-end diversity and inclusion solutions for nonprofits, businesses and higher education institutions.
 
Prior to her current position, Akotaobi served as the CDO/Sr. Director of Talent & DEI at Springboard Collaborative and as the Executive Director of the Black Women in Sport Foundation.
 
The Daniels College of Business Graduate worked in the Daniel L. Ritchie Center's Coors Fitness Center during her final two years at the University of Denver before transitioning to leadership roles at the Midwest Conference in Oshkosh, Wis., and Swarthmore College, where she spent seven years as the Title IX Deputy Coordinator and a year and a half as the Senior Women's Administrator (SWA).
 
Akotaobi is active in her Philadelphia area community, serving as a board member for the Yleana Leadership Foundation, the Chester Upland Youth Soccer Association and Impact100 Philadelphia. She is also a Founder's Fellow for the Women's Philanthropy Organization.
 
In her spare time, Akotaobi often presents as a panelist or keynote speaker on a variety of topics, including gender equity in leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion.
 
Coronavirus Updates:
For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
 
COVID Relief Fund:
University of Denver Athletics and Recreation announced the launch of the 5280 COVID Relief Fund in September, a yearlong campaign with a goal of raising $1 million that will go towards supporting divisional operating costs negatively affected by COVID-19. Click here to donate to the 5280 Together COVID Relief Fund.

– 5280 Together – 
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