Kevin Merida, Senior VP of ESPN and head of ESPN startup, The Undefeated, is coming to American University to discuss race, culture, and sports with School of Communication Journalist in Residence John Sullivan. 

The Undefeated is ESPN's two-year-old digital project about the intersection of sports and race.

Former Managing Editor of The Washington Post and, Merida led the Post's digital transformation that resulted in a huge increase in audience growth, and oversaw key sections such as National, Foreign, Metro, and Sports. 

Merida attended Boston University and then the University of California at Berkeley’s Program for Minority Journalists before starting his career at The Milwaukee Journal. He joined The Washington Post in 1993 as a Congressional correspondent and political writer. 

As Editor-in-Chief of The Undefeated, Merida will oversee impactful journalism through opinion-forming storytelling on African Americans and multicultural athletes. 

Professor Amy Eisman coordinated the event and said she hopes people come out to join in the conversation on race, culture, and sports. 

"Kevin's story is compelling, from his personal backstory to his amazing professional one. From his role as Managing Editor of The Washington Post to his new position running Undefeated, his career hits all the high points of an industry in change," Eisman said.

A reception will begin at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 5, in the Butler Board Room; the program is from 7-8pm.