CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ACC UNITE Award. The ACC UNITE Award recognizes individuals who have had a significant impact in the area of unity. Each member may nominate up to two individuals per year. Nominees may be student-athletes, staff members, alumni or community members of the institution. The conference will select two honorees. The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC’s UNITE Committee and is supported by all 18 member institutions.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Susan Michalczyk of Boston College and Dr. Harry Edwards of the University of California, Berkeley. They will be recognized on-field at the 2025 ACC Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 6, at Bank of America Stadium.
“We are incredibly honored to recognize the fifth annual UNITE Award recipients and celebrate Dr. Michalczyk and Dr. Edwards with this award,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “Each honoree represented the very best of our 18 member institutions and has made a lasting impact through their leadership, service, and commitment to creating meaningful change within their communities and beyond.”
Dr. Susan Michalczyk – Boston College
With over 40 years of service at Boston College, Dr. Michalczyk exemplifies the ideals of the ACC UNITE Award through her lifelong dedication to fostering respect, dignity and the inherent worth of every person. As an Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in creating inclusive academic spaces where diverse perspectives are valued, history is honored and empathy and ethical reflection are central to learning. Through her interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship in comparative literature, language, art and film, Dr. Michalczyk inspires students to explore their own stories and engage thoughtfully with broader social and cultural issues.
Her commitment to unity and remembrance is most evident in her work preserving the legacy of Lou Montgomery, Boston College’s first Black football player. Through the annual screening of award-winning documentaries co-created with her husband, John J. Michalczyk, she has helped ensure that Montgomery’s life and contributions are recognized and celebrated. This tradition unites students, alumni, and the wider campus community in meaningful dialogue about inclusion, perseverance, and the pursuit of social justice.
Beyond her work at Boston College, Dr. Michalczyk’s scholarship addresses the enduring consequences of discrimination and prejudice. Her collaborative documentary and publication projects, including “Hitler’s Mein Kampf and the Holocaust: A Prelude to Genocide” and “Nazi Law: Legally Blind”, explore complex historical issues and promote awareness, reflection and understanding. Through this work, she encourages constructive conversations that challenge intolerance and support mutual respect.
Dr. Harry Edwards – University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Edwards, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, has dedicated more than 55 years to scholarship, mentorship and public service. A leading authority on the intersection of sport and society, Dr. Edwards has made significant contributions as a researcher, author and commentator on issues involving athletics, culture and unity.
He has published several books and numerous academic and policy articles, and is a frequent contributor to national media on topics related to sport and social dynamics. Dr. Edwards has also served as a trusted advisor to the National Football League—originally recruited by San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh—and has consulted with professional organizations such as the Golden State Warriors. His expertise has been sought internationally, particularly in Europe, where he has engaged in research, policy development and public dialogue on sport and its broader social impact.
In 1967, Dr. Edwards founded the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which inspired the iconic demonstration by Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in advancing thoughtful discussion on the relationship between sports, culture and social progress.
Dr. Edwards continues to share his insights through his “Last Lectures” series, a 12-part exploration of the evolution, dynamics and impact of sport in modern America.
About the Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 73rd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).