CLAREMONT, Calif. - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps assistant athletic trainer Charles Dean III was honored by the National Association of Division III Athletics Admistrators (NADIIIAA) for his leadership within the CMS athletic department, the NADIIIAA announced today. 

Dean earned the Transitioning Athletic Admimistrator Award from NADIIIAA, which is presented to a professional who transitioned from coaching or other professional duties to athletics administration with seven or fewer years of cumulative experience as a titled athletics administrator at the Division III level. NADIIIAA will honor Dean during its annual reception in conjunction with the NCAA Convention in Nashville on Thursday, January 16.

Dean serves as the CMS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee Coordinator, in addition to his role as an ATC. As one of the primary founders of this committee, Dean has been instrumental in leading coaches, staff, and student-athletes in meaningful conversations on a wide range of topics. These conversations, referred to as "Learning Clubs," have helped foster community and often extend outside of the sessions.

Each year, Dean coordinates the logistics of the DEIB Committee's annual speaker, who comes to campus to speak with coaches, staff, and student-athletes. Dean has also found ways to show DEIB efforts tangibly by partnering with ClipDart and different student organizations on campus to offer free haircuts on campus, addressing haircare inequity.

Outside of CMS, Dean has served as a facilitator at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum for the past two years. Using this forum as inspiration, Dean took this knowledge back to campus, creating his own leadership session for student-athletes. He also participated in the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute.

NADIIIAA athletics administrators from over 350 institutions and conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Association encourages the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational principles and the Division III philosophy. NADIIIAA is administered by NACDA, which is in its 60th year. For more information on NACDA, the 19 professional associations and/or three foundations it manages, please visit www.nacda.com.