Brown-Campbell named to diversity position

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — DeeDee Brown-Campbell has been named Coordinator of Athletic Diversity Initiatives for the University of Arkansas Athletics Department, Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Jeff Long announced today. Brown-Campbell has been with the Razorbacks since her days as a student-athlete on the track and field team serving most recently in the student-athlete academic support department. Brown-Campbell will work directly with Long to coordinate ongoing diversity initiatives while also developing new diversity programs for Razorback Athletics. “I am pleased that DeeDee has agreed to take on the additional responsibility of this role,” Long said. “As a former Razorback student-athlete, DeeDee will bring a valuable perspective to our diversity program. In her new position, she will serve a pivotal role in the coordination of our various ongoing diversity efforts within our department. DeeDee will work, from the office of the athletic director, to develop, coordinate and measure the success of new diversity initiatives. She will also work with Dr. Charles Robinson, vice provost for diversity, to align our efforts with campus wide diversity efforts.” While Brown-Campbell’s position will evolve over time, some of her primary duties will include creating and implementing programs and activities to educate and promote different forms of diversity within the athletic department and student-athlete population. The associate director of academic support will also maintain her role working as an academic coordinator with the men’s basketball team. “I’m really excited to be working with Jeff as we expand diversity in all areas of our department,” Brown-Campbell said. “We have to continue to have dialogue on the issues impacting our staff and student-athletes and I’m looking forward to be a part of that process.” Prior to the merger of the two departments, Brown-Campbell was named assistant athletic director of academic support in July 2006 for the women’s athletic program. Brown-Campbell served as the director of academic support for all women’s athletic teams since 2004. As a former Arkansas track and field All-American she is a true product of the program. Upon completing her athletic eligibility and graduating with a degree in kinesiology, Brown decided to stay with the University of Arkansas as a graduate assistant, working in athletic administration and as an academic counselor for a little over a year. She was hired full time in January 2004 as the assistant director of academic support, and promoted to director in the summer of 2004. A two-time All-American in the heptathlon as a member of Arkansas’ perennial championship track & field team, Brown has made an impact since the day she set foot on campus in the fall of 1998. During her competition days, Brown was one of just a select few to ever earn more than 5,700 points in the heptathlon. She won two Southeastern Conference Championships and still holds five school records in the pentathlon and heptathlon competitions. Since retiring from competitive track in 2003, Brown focused her attention to the classroom as a member of Arkansas’ academic staff. In that capacity she worked with Arkansas’ basketball team and assisted its athletes to their highest grade point average ever when the squad earned a 3.30 cumulative GPA in the spring of 2004. Brown earned her master’s degree in sport management in December of 2004. She is the daughter of Darrell and Angela Brown. Her father Darrell was one of the first African-American football players in University of Arkansas history. Brown-Campbell is married to former Razorback football player Marcus Campbell. The couple have a son, Chase. For more information about Razorback athletics, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.