It is indeed a great pleasure and honor for me, as a professor of higher education, to serve as founding director of the Center for Athletes’ Rights and Equity (CARE) at UC Riverside.

CARE—an interdisciplinary and innovative research center—was established in 2020 to advance education research and policy activities on athletes across all levels of competition. Our equity-focused research team and partners have many, many years of research and professional experience. Through an integration of scientific research with academic enrichment and career development programs and services, participating athletes and professionals have opportunities to engage in high-impact learning experiences that allow them to make connections and understand processes that open doors to new possibilities and careers for athletes at every level.  

CARE is leading a growing movement and continues to make strides to provide athletes and professionals with the best learning experiences possible. Leadership for Equity and Athlete Development (LEAD) Collaborative, our featured learning component, includes a community of learners that create a coordinated game plan to advance equitable outcomes for all athletes. To achieve this, we intentionally lead with a lens of equity, inclusion, and justice!

As we progress through the academic year, we are more committed than ever to increasing our support for athletes’ rights and well-being at every level. Take a browse through our CARE website and gain insights about our ongoing, cutting-edge research, educational programs and services, events, and research opportunities. Whether you are a student, educator, researcher, practitioner, policy maker, athletic administrator, or advocate of athletes we look forward to having you learn more about CARE. We would love to have you join us and partner with us to help build more equitable pathways for athletes, here in California and across the globe. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out via email or call 951-827-3934. It’s Go Time!

Eddie Comeaux, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Athletes’ Rights and Equity (CARE)
Professor of Higher Education 
School of Education