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Dena Freeman-Patton servers as Deputy Athletics Director at California State University, Bakersfield. With nearly 19 years of athletic administration experience, she serves on the executive leadership team for the department and is the sport administrator for women's basketball, men’s soccer, softball and men's and women's swimming and diving. Freeman-Patton also oversees all student services areas including the Kegley Center for Student Success, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and the ‘Runner Ready program. She also launched and oversees the first ever ‘Runner Varsity Club.

Under her leadership, CSUB has enhanced all areas of academic support and development for student-athletes. Over the past two years CSUB Athletics increased its departmental GPA from 2.87 to 3.06. Freeman-Patton took over a program with six teams below the APR threshold and now boasts APR success with all teams in good standing.  In addition, CSUB has increased its student-athlete graduation success rate from 60% to 71%. CSUB has continued to enhance the services provided to its student-athletes with the assistance of the NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program. Freeman-Patton led the efforts to secure this $870,000 grant. With the opening of a new 8000 square foot facility in fall of 2016, CSUB will surely continue its drive toward academic excellence.