MAC ANNOUNCES 2019 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM AWARD WINNERS
Central Michigan’s Cristy Freese and Alexandria Robinson recognized as award winners
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the individual award winners for achievements in diversity & inclusion with the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator and Student-Athlete awards. Cristy Freese, Executive Associate Athletic Director of Sport Administration and Senior Women’s Administrator at Central Michigan University was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award. Central Michigan junior track & field student-athlete Alexandria ‘Lexi’ Robinson was named winner of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award.
“It is an honor to recognize Cristy Freese and Lexi Robinson for their outstanding leadership and commitment to prioritizing and advancing diversity and inclusion programs at Central Michigan University,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
“On behalf of Central Michigan University and the entire athletic department, I wish to congratulate Cristy Freese and Lexi Robinson for being honored with these prestigious and well-deserved awards,” said Central Michigan, Director of Athletics Michael Alford. “Their exemplary leadership and commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion reflect the values we hold dear at Central Michigan. Their efforts in this important area have made a lasting impact on our campus and will continue to do so moving forward. We are proud to call them Chippewas.”
Freese has played a vital role in the expansion of diversity and inclusion within Central Michigan athletics. Freese has been actively involved in diversity and inclusion programing for both Central Michigan student-athletes and staff. She serves on the university-wide diversity council and implemented a diversity council subcommittee within the athletics department. Through her leadership, the athletics diversity council has implemented programming and practices for the athletic department to create an environment for staff to thrive and grow. Central Michigan athletics has implemented practices to ensure its search process is recruiting diverse candidates. Freese supported the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) creation of Chippewa Chats, a program to provide student-athletes, staff, and coaches with educational opportunities on topics regarding race, LGBTQ, etc.
“I am truly honored to receive the MAC Diversity and Inclusion Administrator Award for the work we have done at Central Michigan University and in our athletic department,” said Freese. “Thank you to the MAC and Commissioner Steinbrecher for focusing our Conference on these issues and to Central Michigan University for their commitment to diversity and inclusion on our campus. Central Michigan Athletics has shown a great commitment to understanding, fostering and growing diversity and inclusion within our athletic community and I appreciate all of the work others on our campus have contributed to our process.”
Freese has championed female staff to continue to grow professionally and personally by mentoring them and sending them to different professional development programs. Freese makes conscious efforts towards inclusion and making sure everyone understands what it means to be inclusive. She has been a mentor through the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Mentoring Program the past two years and continues to take time to mentor all staff as they prepare for their next steps professionally.
Robinson, a native of Novi, Mich., serves as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and played a vital role in the implementation of the Chippewa Chats program. This program launched further partnerships with the Office of Diversity Education and Multicultural Academic Student Services to generate conversation and broaden perspectives.
Robinson is also active within e-board for her residence hall and works as an Inclusion Assistant for Residence Life. Last summer, she completed an internship with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in Washington D.C., which provides support to economically and disadvantaged communities occupied by minorities. Robinson assisted with the assurance of fair lending and inclusion banking for low-to-moderate communities.
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. Through this program, the MAC is working to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
These six initiatives include: establishing a Conference Diversity & Inclusion Statement, the commitment of 25 new annual internships across membership, a collaborative mentoring program, a bi-annual summit, the first of which was hosted by the MAC on Feb. 8, 2018, the creation of a resource webpage and the annual awards platform to recognize one institutional athletic department, administrator and student-athlete.
The MAC Diversity & Inclusion program provides career educational opportunities for a diverse pool of candidates, career entry and advancement opportunities, consistent support and career mentoring programs for all levels of professionals, and opportunities for collaboration on best hiring practices and cultural enhancements.
In the Fall of 2015, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher instituted a 15-member working group comprised of university administrators, senior athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives to present to MAC membership recommendations for a comprehensive diversity & inclusion program. Steinbrecher charged the working group with: “Taking a solution-oriented leadership role in accelerating and growing the pool of minority candidates for collegiate job opportunities in coaching and administration.”
