For LSU African and African American Studies and sociology professor and author Lori Latrice Martin, sports are about far more than entertainment, especially from the perspective of student-athletes. But these sometimes painful challenges for student-athletes are often hidden from fans who see only the competition on the field of play. A former collegiate athlete herself, Lori uses the lens of sports to study important issues of race, education and class, revealing the ways in which race and sports are related historically and in contemporary times. Born and raised in Nyack, New York, Lori has published numerous books on race, education and athletics, and is a leading voice on racial disparities in athletic programs and the ongoing debate over the compensation of student-athletes. Her latest book, Black Women as Leaders: Challenging and Transforming Society, will be published in 2019. In addition to her academic work, Lori is also active in efforts to honor and remember the sacrifices of people of color in their struggles for justice. She played a leading role in the Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project’s recognition of the historic 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott and has co-authored a book uncovering the history of African Americans in South Baton Rouge.