Central Michigan University Athletics
High Honors For Cristy Freese, Lexi Robinson
8/29/2019 10:15:00 AM | General
Chippewas honored for work in MAC's diversity and inclusion initiative
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan's Cristy Freese and Alexandria Robinson have been honored by the Mid-American Conference for their work in the league's diversity and inclusion initiative.
Freese, who retired in June after 33-plus years as a coach and administrator at CMU, received the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award. Robinson, a junior and a member of the CMU track & field program, received the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award.
"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 Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/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 coached the Chippewa field hockey program for 29 years before becoming the Executive Associate Athletic Director of Sport Administration and Senior Women's Administrator in January, 2015. She retired in June.
Freese championed female staff to continue to grow professionally and personally by mentoring them and sending them to professional development programs and served as a mentor through the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Mentoring Program.
She played a vital role in the expansion of diversity and inclusion within Central Michigan athletics, serving on the university-wide diversity council and implementing a diversity council subcommittee within the athletics department. Through her leadership, this council implemented programming and practices to create an environment in which staff has grown and thrived.
"I am truly honored to receive the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award for the work we have done at Central Michigan University and in our athletic department," Freese said. "Thank you to the MAC and Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher for focusing our conference on these issues and to Central Michigan University for their commitment to diversity and inclusion on our campus.
"CMU 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."
Robinson, who hails from Novi, is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and played a vital role in the implementation of Chippewa Chats, an initiative that engages student-athletes, coaches and staff in dialogue related to diversity and inclusion. This program spawned partnerships with the Office of Diversity Education and Multicultural Academic Student Services.
Robinson is also active within e-board for her residence hall and works as an Inclusion Assistant for Residence Life. She recently 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.
"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.
The MAC began the Diversity & Inclusion Program in 2017 and it has become one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Division I intercollegiate athletics. It has positioned the conference as a leader within collegiate athletics as it works to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
The initiatives are 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.
Freese, who retired in June after 33-plus years as a coach and administrator at CMU, received the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award. Robinson, a junior and a member of the CMU track & field program, received the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete Award.
"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 Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/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 coached the Chippewa field hockey program for 29 years before becoming the Executive Associate Athletic Director of Sport Administration and Senior Women's Administrator in January, 2015. She retired in June.
Freese championed female staff to continue to grow professionally and personally by mentoring them and sending them to professional development programs and served as a mentor through the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Mentoring Program.
She played a vital role in the expansion of diversity and inclusion within Central Michigan athletics, serving on the university-wide diversity council and implementing a diversity council subcommittee within the athletics department. Through her leadership, this council implemented programming and practices to create an environment in which staff has grown and thrived.
"I am truly honored to receive the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Administrator Award for the work we have done at Central Michigan University and in our athletic department," Freese said. "Thank you to the MAC and Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher for focusing our conference on these issues and to Central Michigan University for their commitment to diversity and inclusion on our campus.
"CMU 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."
Robinson, who hails from Novi, is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and played a vital role in the implementation of Chippewa Chats, an initiative that engages student-athletes, coaches and staff in dialogue related to diversity and inclusion. This program spawned partnerships with the Office of Diversity Education and Multicultural Academic Student Services.
Robinson is also active within e-board for her residence hall and works as an Inclusion Assistant for Residence Life. She recently 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.
"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.
The MAC began the Diversity & Inclusion Program in 2017 and it has become one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Division I intercollegiate athletics. It has positioned the conference as a leader within collegiate athletics as it works to expand opportunities for minority candidates in coaching and administration with six specific and coordinated program initiatives.
The initiatives are 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.
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