By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the second year in a row, Bridgewater State University participated in the NCAA's Common Ground program, which "supports inclusive team and campus environments.''
Common Ground, now in its eighth year, featured representatives of 15 private and public colleges getting together in Indianapolis for three days in March for "educational sessions, intentional dialogue, relationship building and action planning."
According to the NCAA, Common Ground "supports inclusive team and campus environments by strengthening communication, building understanding and equipping participants with practical strategies that can be applied within athletics programs."
Among the nearly 70 people who attended the event were Sean Connell, BSU's assistant director of the Pride Center; Lauren Ramos, a staff assistant to the school's vice president for Student Life; Melissa Bonomo, a staff assistant and campus recreation supervisor for Athletics and Recreation; and Ryan DePesa, the associate director of Residence Life and Housing.
The team was put together by Chanelle Melton, BSU's Manager of Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance and an assistant women's basketball coach. She filed an application for the school to participate again, and BSU was chosen for a second time.
Melton attended the Common Ground program in 2025 when her group was centered around the athletics department.
This year, Melton, who did not attend, chose participants from around campus for the program where challenges facing each school were discussed and plans to use on campus were put together.
"The group came away with a deeper understanding of how to engage in meaningful dialogue across differences, particularly around faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity within the athletics space," said Melton. "A major focus of the experience was learning how to create environments that move beyond surface-level inclusion and instead foster true respect, belonging, and shared accountability within teams.
"The program also emphasized practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations, supporting student-athletes with different identities and lived experiences, and being more intentional about how team culture is shaped on a daily basis."
According to Melton, the four BSU representatives received valuable information during their trip to Indiana.
"One of the biggest takeaways for our group was recognizing that inclusive leadership is not just about policy, but about consistent actions, communication, and creating spaces where all student-athletes feel seen and supported," she said.
"Since returning, we’ve already begun thinking about how to apply these lessons within the BSU community, particularly through team discussions, staff development, and continuing to build on our existing DEI initiatives in athletics.
"The experience reinforced the importance of collaboration across campus and the role athletics can play in leading these conversations."
Among the objectives of Common Ground, according to the NCAA, are:
- Build skills for respectful dialogue and communication across differences.
- Strengthen team culture grounded in dignity, belonging and student-athlete well-being.
- Learn actionable strategies you can apply within your athletics department.
- Develop a campus-informed action plan to support inclusive environments.
Common Ground offers ideas for athletics teams such as setting expectations for respect, dignity and inclusion, communication norms for difficult conversations and reinforcing expectations.
Melton, who was a standout basketball player for the Bears from 2013-18 and is a member of the program's 1,000-point club, said that her visit to Common Ground in '25 was a rewarding one.
"It was a great experience for me," said Melton. "I thought the initiative was really transformative. It really challenged me to listen to different perspectives and reflect on identity belief system how they show up on campus.
"It wasn't just a professional development oppourtnity. It was really a space that truly challenged me and transformed me as a leader, a facilitator, a human being. The experience really pushed me to reflect on how I show up for others, especially when conversations are uncomfortable or when identities or beliefs have tension.
"Common Ground, for me, really helped me realize the importances for holding space for nuances and building relationships acorss the different campus departments we have."
To have a team from Bridgewater State be chosen a second year in a row was significant.
This year's group is from outside of athletics and will share the experience around campus.
"When I was applying, I didn't know they'd pick us for a second time," said Melton. "Bridgewater State is really incredibly fortunate to be part of the NCAA Common Ground initiative because we are a public insitution that is committed to our institutional goals like access, equity and student's success.
"Being selected again for a national relationship-centered experience is an honor. It's a very powerful opportunity. Not all schools get to do this, put themselves out there to contribute their own voice or talking about belinging and what that means to student-athletes well being."