California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Dena Freeman-Patton heads into her sixth year at California State University, Bakersfield. With over 20 years of collegiate athletic administration experience, she serves as the deputy athletics director for the department and is responsible for the day to day operations and administration of key department functions.

Freeman-Patton currently serves as sport administrator for women's basketball, men’s soccer, and men's and women's swimming and diving and oversees the areas of sports medicine, strength and conditioning and the Kegley Center for Student Success. She also launched and is the Director of the first ever ‘Runner Varsity Club at CSUB.

Freeman-Patton led the efforts to secure a $870,000 NCAA Accelerated Academic Success Program grant that contributed to the opening of the new $1 million Kegley Center for Student Success. She also implemented the Student-Athlete Leadership Academy and International Student-Athlete Program.

Under her leadership, CSUB has also introduced a nutrition program and a mental health awareness program and management plan.
 
Freeman-Patton received the 2018 ShePower “SheEducates” award for her contributions at CSUB and the Bakersfield community.
 
Prior to CSUB, Freeman-Patton served on the department’s senior staff and was the sport supervisor for women’s soccer at Georgia State University (2007-2013). She also held positions at the University of Maryland, College Park (2005-2007) and North Carolina State University (2002-2005). 
 
Freeman-Patton is a member of Women Leaders in College Sports and 2017 Executive Institute graduate. She currently serves on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Board of Directors. Freeman-Patton also serves as an instructor and is on the Board of Advisors for the Emerging Administrators Academy.

Freeman-Patton lettered in basketball at Liberty University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management in 1996. She added a master’s in sports administration from Georgia State in 1999.

The Baltimore, Md., native and Lake Clifton High School Alumna is a member of The Bakersfield Chapter Links, Inc.