As athletic director at Morgan State University since June 2022, Dena Freeman-Patton continues to receive well wishes from others. “People are still congratulating me for getting the job,” she said.
Freeman-Patton has been busy. She shepherded the additions of wrestling as well as acrobatics and tumbling, raising the number of sports programs to 16 and student-athletes to 400, and hired coaches in football, wrestling, acrobatics and tumbling, and bowling.
Freeman-Patton said the athletics department enjoyed its highest graduation rates and highest Academic Progress Rate scores (a measure to determine eligibility and retention of student-athletes), although the latter won’t be made public until May. She is a member of the National Invitation Tournament men’s basketball committee and the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee.
As pleased as she is with the school’s progress, Freeman-Patton is working with other university leaders on a facilities master plan for athletics and exploring name, image and likeness opportunities for athletes. “I’m not settled by any means,” she said.
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
