CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the individual award winners for achievements in impact & excellence with the 1-MAC Administrator and Student-Athlete awards. The 1-MAC award is presented to those that have shown tremendous impact & excellence in inclusion efforts.
Dan Bartholomae, Vice President/Director of Athletics at Western Michigan University was named winner of the 2023-24 1-MAC Administrator Award, while Buffalo football graduate student-athlete Taji Johnson was named winner of the 2023-24 1-MAC Student-Athlete Award.
“It is an honor to recognize Western Michigan’s Dan Bartholomae and Buffalo’s Taji Johnson for their outstanding leadership and commitment to prioritizing and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion programs at their respective institutions,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.
Under Bartholomae’s leadership, Western Michigan has become a leader in Student-Athlete and Staff Development with a focus on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment within the department. As a key catalyst to that effort, the newly created Broncos Empowered life skills program now employs two full-time staff members and a Graduate Assistant with a sole focus on personal development. At the executive level, his purposeful approach to building an executive team that is representative of the populations the department serves has transformed the leadership team, with 50% of its members now representing minorities. Additionally, Bartholomae ensures staff and student-athletes benefit from professional development by participating in conferences such as the MACtion Summit, WeCoach, NIL Summit and NCAA Inclusion Forum.
Bartholomae has also prioritized advancements in women’s sports since his arrival in 2022, receiving the three largest gifts to women’s sports programs in school history. That support has translated to over $3M in capital construction to support women’s sports programs, including new locker room spaces in Women’s Basketball, Gymnastics and Cross Country/Track and Field, as well as the pending completion of the Bergeron Golf Performance Center.
Bartholomae has also embedded principles of diversity, equity and inclusion into the department’s strategic plan, establishing affinity groups such as Black Cultivated Athlete and WISE which create safe sand supportive spaces for underrepresented student-athletes. Additionally, the department has forged strategic partnerships across campus to sponsor events such as the WMU Black Male Summit and the MLK Jr. Day of Service. His commitment to supporting the overall community led to over 6,000 hours of community service across WMU Athletics, working with organizations like the Michigan Blind Association and Southwest Miracle League.
“What an honor to be thought of in this capacity by my peers,” said Bartholomae. “As is the case with any individual recognition, it is representative of being surrounded by a great team, and I thank our student-athletes, coaches, staff and President’s Cabinet colleagues for believing in our vision and working so hard to achieve our goals”.
Johnson, who joined the Bulls in Spring 2024 for his final year of eligibility, quickly made a lasting impact by organizing the "A Day in the Life" event for at-risk middle school students. Through his partnership with TheTeam.org, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement and voter participation in college athletics, Johnson helped provide critical resources and support to students and their families. His efforts included arranging school supplies and connecting families with local services, addressing the diverse needs of the community.
In addition to organizing the event, Johnson fostered collaboration among student-athletes from various sports, creating a network that shared strategies and experiences to collectively support at-risk students. By emphasizing unity and teamwork, Johnson and his fellow student-athletes inspired resilience, leadership, and academic excellence among the students they mentored.
Johnson’s initiative has had a lasting impact on the WNY community, demonstrating the powerful role that sports and community engagement can play in creating positive change. His leadership and compassion have left a meaningful legacy, showcasing how one individual can make a difference through dedication and action.
“I’m extremely proud of Taji Johnson for being the recipient of this year’s 1-MAC student-athlete award, “said Buffalo Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. “As a graduate transfer, Taji has made a significant impact and contributed almost immediately after he arrived in Buffalo by engaging with our underserved community. He embodies what it means to utilize his platform, rally other student-athletes and make a difference in the community. His efforts have made and will continue to make a lasting impression on the WNY community and provide the necessary resources for at-risk students to be successful in school.”
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. This Program has evolved and developed through the years to provide education and training opportunities, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes.
The MAC is dedicated to the student-athlete experience and well-being is a top priority. To continue to promote and strengthen the student-athletes within the MAC, the Conference Office will continue its efforts in inclusion in order to provide better support to our young adults.
Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award:
2024: Dan Bartholomae, Western Michigan University
2023: Julian Jones, Western Michigan University
2022: Taylor Jefferson, Bowling Green State University
2021: Jewel Cotton, Central Michigan University
2020: Dr. Chet Hesson, Bowling Green State University
2019: Cristy Freese, Central Micchigan University
2018: Kathy Twist, University at Buffalo and Dennis Corbin, Western Michigan University
Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award:
2024: Taji Johnson, University at Buffalo, Football
2023: Max Michel, University at Buffalo, Football
2022: Kai Caesar, Ohio University, Football
2021 Kamal Adewumi, Ohio University, Wrestling
2020: Priyana Kalita, Miami University, Women's Tennis
2019: Lexi Robinson, Central Michigan University, Track & Field
2018: Devon Patterson, University at Buffalo, Track & Field
