WASHINGTON – Georgetown University Francis X. Rienzo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed announced the hiring of Marissa Robinson as the department's new executive director for diversity, equity & inclusion. Robinson will be the first in the newly created position that was created from a gift from the Behrens Family. This new position will complement the Athletics Department's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group as both efforts push the Department closer to its strategic goal of inclusive excellence.

"This position is a first of its kind within our Department and I believe Marissa has the background and the drive to establish it and really make an impact in the lives of our student-athletes," said Reed. "As we continue to create an inclusive community within the Department, this position, along with others we've added over the past year, bolster our efforts and provide more opportunities for our student-athletes to make their voices heard on our campus and within their communities."

Robinson comes to the Hilltop from the NCAA where she served as an assistant director of leadership development for four years. In her role, she was responsible for a number of programs including minority initiatives such as the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, the Achieving Communication Success Workshop and the McLendon Summit, as well as primary administrator responsibilities for the Division II and Division III Pathway Program, the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy and the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.

At the NCAA, Robinson was recognized for her work with two top-10 nominations for the NCAA's President's Award celebrating the contributions of NCAA employees who best exemplify the organization's core values.

Robinson joined the leadership development department as an intern as part of the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program. During her time as an intern, she oversaw the NCAA DiSC program and provided significant assistance on numerous other programs.

The Delaware native graduated summa cum laude from Kean University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in special education and psychology. During her time at Kean, she was a four-year field hockey student-athlete, member of the Leadership Council, president of her campus and conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of the Division III National SAAC. She also worked for the Student Government Programming Board, planning events for the campus community. As a student-athlete, she was a two-time captain, earning All-Conference, All-Region and All-American honors. She was honored as a Top 30 Nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year.

This new position will enhance the focus on matters related to social justice with specific emphasis on the training and education of student-athletes, coaches and staff members. It will aid the Department in continuing its partnerships with campus units to provide opportunities for interaction between and among a diverse population, and advance the Athletics Department's strategic priorities as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion.

"I am grateful for this opportunity and am very excited to join the Georgetown Athletics family and community," said Robinson. "I would like to extend a thank you to Lee Reed and the Behrens Family for their dedication and commitment to reaching inclusive excellence. I look forward to working with the student-athletes, coaches and administrators to increase awareness around diversity, equity and inclusion issues and creating long-lasting change. Georgetown has a rich history of athletic and academic excellence, commitment to developing the whole person and dedication to social justice. These attributes and others lay the foundation for GU to be a leader in DEI education, initiatives and best practices. I take pride in being the first in the role and am excited to get started."