BALTIMORE, Md. - Morgan State Director of Athletics and Vice President Dena Freeman-Patton has formally announced the promotions of four athletics administration staff members beginning their duties on July 1, 2024. The promotions are part of a restructuring that will position the athletic department to face the current and future landscape of intercollegiate athletics.
Beginning in June with the addition of Keshia Campbell, the new Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services, AD/VP Freeman-Patton re-constructed her executive staff to align with the University and athletic departments' goals. The newly composed executive team will highlight academic excellence, compliance, health and wellness, facilities, capital projects, and the storytelling of Morgan State student-athletes. The restructuring seeks to further align with the NCAA Division I Board of Directors' vision of a "holistic student-athlete benefits model."
"After an amazing two years at the National Treasure, my focus continues to be on providing an excellent student-athlete experience," Freeman-Patton stated. "The enhanced organizational structure will emphasize a holistic model that centers around the health and wellness and the personal and professional growth of our nearly 400 student-athletes."
Melvin Hines has been named the Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer after serving as the Senior Associate Athletic Director/COO since September 2022. Hines will be responsible for the oversight of the internal operations of the athletic department including the business operations, facilities and capital projects. In addition, Hines will have direct supervision of the football program, and the University's intramurals and recreation programming and activities.
Terrence Lollie will transition to the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and Brand Advancement. Lollie who formerly served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Success for the past seven years will direct the athletic communications and digital media department.
Kimberly Ross-Watkins has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services after previously serving as the Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Success. Ross-Watkins is a two-time graduate of Morgan State University and will conduct the day-to-day operations of the academic staff within the department. Ross-Watkins has been a staff member of the athletic department for over 25 years.
Richard Epps, a 17-year veteran of the department, received a promotion to Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and will facilitate the day-to-day organization of the facilities, business operations and game-day operations. Epps previously served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations. Both Epps and Ross-Watkins have been added to AD/VP Freeman-Patton's Executive Staff.
Completing Freeman-Patton's executive team are fellow members, Erlease Wagner, Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, and Sterling Steward, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Chief Revenue Officer. Wagner, who is entering her ninth year with the department, will assume the leadership of the Student-Athlete Success team while continuing to oversee the compliance staff. Steward joined the executive team in December of 2022 and will continue to lead fundraising and revenue-generation efforts while coordinating oversight of the marketing team and game-day presentation staff.
AD/VP Freeman-Patton has guided the Morgan State athletic department since June 2022 and will begin her third academic year at the National Treasure in the fall. Freeman-Patton witnessed her first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship as a Bear this past spring with the Morgan State softball program capturing the 2024 regular season and tournament titles.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu
