ASG to Host Solomon Thomas April 5

Associated Student Government

Danyelle Musselman will moderate a question-and-answer session with NFL football player and co-founder of The Defensive Line, Solomon Thomas on Wednesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

Danyelle Musselman will moderate a question-and-answer session with NFL football player and co-founder of The Defensive Line, Solomon Thomas, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center. No tickets are required for this event sponsored by Associated Student Government. 

Thomas has played in the NFL for six seasons as a defensive lineman and is co-founder and board chair of The Defensive Line.  Drafted as the No. 3 overall player in the 2017 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he played four seasons for the Niners, including Super Bowl LIV. His defensive skills have taken him to the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets, where he was their nominee for the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.  

Off the field, Thomas has dedicated his life to sharing his sister Ella's story and has worked with a myriad of nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and secure funds for mental health and suicide prevention work. His courage to vulnerably share his experience through national media outlets like CNN, ESPN, The New York Times and NFL Network have established him as a respected advocate in the field.  

Most recently, Thomas participated in the announcement of the new 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline in a national campaign, served on a panel for Paramount-plus Global and continues to work with the NFL to improve mental health programming in the league. 

Musselman has an extensive background working in sports broadcasting with years of experience in anchoring, hosting and reporting. Most recently, Musselman worked for the NFL Network, where she served as an update anchor and as the host of "Up to the Minute." She also served as the host for Yahoo Sports and as an anchor for Fox Sports Net. In addition, Musselman worked as a sideline reporter for FOX Sports NFL games and spent two years anchoring various programs on ESPN and ESPNews. Musselman is the co-chair of the Coaches vs Cancer Wives & Friends team and serves as the market chair for the Make a Wish Foundation Mid-South Region. Musselman is married to current Arkansas Men's Basketball coach Eric Musselman. They share three children: Michael (25), Matthew (20) and Mariah (11). 

Any questions about the event should be directed towards ASG Chief of Staff Mackenzie Mollner at asgcos@uark.edu. 

This event is sponsored by Associated Student Government through the Office of Student Activities and is supported by the Student Activities Fee. This event is held in a venue that meets ADA standards. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend this event. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact the Office of Student Activities by five (5) business days prior to the event at osa@uark.edu or call 479-575-5255. ASG is a program in the Division of Student Affairs. 

About The Defensive Line: The Defensive Line Foundation is dedicated to end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health. The foundation will focus all its programmatic efforts on suicide reduction by providing health and wellness programs, providing education and support to families through workshops, storytelling of personal experiences of suicide loss and mental health, and partnerships with schools to support robust prevention mechanisms that spot the signs of suicide risk and connect young people to the resources they need. 

About the Division of Student Affairs: The Division of Student Affairs supports students in pursuing knowledge, earning a degree, finding meaningful careers, exploring diversity, and connecting with the global community. We provide students housing, dining, health care resources, and create innovative programs that educate and inspire. We enhance the U of A experience and help students succeed, one student at a time.