Morgan State University Athletics

Dena Freeman-Patton is serving in her fourth year as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Morgan State University. With her selection, Freeman-Patton became the first woman in Morgan's 155-year history to be hired to lead its athletic operations. In her role, she oversees the athletics department and intramural sports and activities at Morgan State.
 
“Given the stability of our athletics operations, the impressive academic standing of our student-athletes and the positive competitive trajectory of our sports teams, this was a very attractive leadership position to fill, drawing interest from across the country," said University President David Wilson. "Among those expressing a high interest, Dena Freeman-Patton was the most impressive, offering a wealth of experience and the requisite leadership capabilities to oversee a rising D1 athletic program. We welcome Dena to the Morgan team and look forward to her taking the reins and advancing our athletic programs to even greater heights. In her, we have the right person for the job."
 
Since Freeman-Patton’s arrival at The National Treasure, Morgan's Athletics Department has experienced a transformation that has made it a model for success within the NCAA. Most recently, the Bears earned an overall department grade point average of 3.03, while 91 total student athletes posted a 4.0 GPA across both semesters and earned the 2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Top Academic Progress Rate (APR) Award for the first time in school history.

Athletically, the Bears have earned 133 MEAC All-Conference Honors, 17 MEAC Top Individual and/or Coaching honors, and 242 have been named to the Commissioners’ All-Academic Team. The softball program earned two MEAC Regular Season Championships and one appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Women’s Basketball participated in the WNIT postseason tournament, and Men’s Tennis has an appearance in the NIT.

With the focus of creating more opportunities for students, the athletics department added wrestling and acrobatics and tumbling in 2023-24. Morgan State became the first Division I HBCU to sponsor an acrobatics and tumbling team.

Freeman-Patton has nearly 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics administration. She was formerly the associate vice president and director of athletics for California State University, Dominguez Hills, and served in executive roles at University of New Orleans, California State University, Bakersfield, Georgia State University, and the University of Maryland, College Park.

In 2024, Freeman-Patton was appointed to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Series (FCS) Oversight Committee and selected to serve a four-year term. She also serves on the Men’s NIT Tournament Committee and Women’s Sports Foundation College Committee. Freeman-Patton was appointed as the 2020 chair of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and in 2018 was named as the Women Leader in College Sports Administrator of the Year.
 
A Baltimore native, Freeman-Patton was a three-sport athlete at Lake Clifton High. She also lettered as a Division I student-athlete in basketball at Liberty University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sports management in 1996. She later received a master's in sports administration from Georgia State University in 1999.
 
"It's great to come home and have an opportunity to join such an historic and mission-focused institute of higher learning such as Morgan State University," said Freeman-Patton. "Being a native of Baltimore, I have always held a special place in my heart for Morgan, because of its connection to the city and what it has meant for the futures of so many. I am proud to represent the family members, friends and colleagues that have poured into me over the years, especially my parents Calvin and Doris Freeman (Morgan alum c/o 1969). It is an honor to be appointed as the first woman to serve in this role and I hope to inspire other women and girls in sports. I thank President Wilson and his team for providing me with this unique opportunity to lead the Athletics Department and make a positive impact on Morgan's student-athletes. I look forward to getting started!"
 
Freeman-Patton reports directly to the president and serves on his Cabinet as a member of the senior administrative team. 
"There are a lot of great things happening within Morgan Athletics. It is a jewel among HBCUs, and I hope to make it shine brighter," said Freeman-Patton.