Mitchell Honored with George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award
April 19, 2022 | General, Academic Services
Award represents the highest honor bestowed on a university staff member annually
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Marvin Mitchell, the University of Louisville's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Services and Diversity, has been honored as the recipient of the George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award.
The annual award recognizes the highest level of achievement and a career of service for a University of Louisville staff member. It recognizes the contributions of an extraordinary UofL staff member who exemplifies the traits of its namesake George J. Howe (humility, generosity and excellence in leadership), as well as the Cardinal Principles. The career of the staff member who earns the award has made an exceptional impact on the university and its vision to be a great place to learn, work and in which to invest. It is a companion honor to the Trustees Award, which is the university's highest honor given to a faculty member each year.
Mitchell was presented with the award at the 2022 UofL Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards Reception on Monday evening. He will also be recognized at the UofL Board of Trustees meeting on April 21.
Mitchell has 29 years of athletic administration experience and is in his 22nd year as a member of the Cardinal Athletics senior administration.
Mitchell serves as the department's chief diversity officer and has oversight of academic services, continuing eligibility, student development, student-athlete programming and Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence (TACE) operations. He is the sport administrator for the Cardinals' track & field and cross country programs.
Mitchell was the school's first Associate Athletic Director in the area of academics. He joined the athletic administration staff in December 1999 as Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Services after three years at East Carolina, where he directed their student development program. Prior to his stint at ECU, Mitchell worked five years at his alma mater Wake Forest in many roles, including serving as assistant director of academic services from 1994-96.
Under Mitchell's leadership, academic success for student-athletes has flourished at UofL. More than half of all student-athletes are consistently named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average each semester. Graduation rates for student-athletes have improved to all-time highs. Computer access, tutorial services, objective-based study halls and a new student retention program are among the significant advancements since his arrival.
A four-year football letterman for Wake Forest University (1987-91), Mitchell is an accomplished speaker and has addressed the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) National Conventions, NCAA Life Skills National Convention, Nike All-America Camps and various universities, high schools and grade schools.
Active in the community, Mitchell has served on various boards including 100 Black Men of America, Clear Channel Communications, Amobi Okoye Foundation, National Collegiate 100 and Chestnut Street YMCA. He is a member of Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Institute for Sport and Social Justice (Institute SSJ) and the N4A. He also serves as the primary advisor for the Collegiate 100, a mentoring organization he chartered at UofL in 2004.
A native of Eastville, Va., Mitchell graduated from Northampton High School and continued his education at Wake Forest University, where he earned both his bachelor's (1992) and master's (1995) degrees.
The annual award recognizes the highest level of achievement and a career of service for a University of Louisville staff member. It recognizes the contributions of an extraordinary UofL staff member who exemplifies the traits of its namesake George J. Howe (humility, generosity and excellence in leadership), as well as the Cardinal Principles. The career of the staff member who earns the award has made an exceptional impact on the university and its vision to be a great place to learn, work and in which to invest. It is a companion honor to the Trustees Award, which is the university's highest honor given to a faculty member each year.
Mitchell was presented with the award at the 2022 UofL Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards Reception on Monday evening. He will also be recognized at the UofL Board of Trustees meeting on April 21.
Mitchell has 29 years of athletic administration experience and is in his 22nd year as a member of the Cardinal Athletics senior administration.
Mitchell serves as the department's chief diversity officer and has oversight of academic services, continuing eligibility, student development, student-athlete programming and Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence (TACE) operations. He is the sport administrator for the Cardinals' track & field and cross country programs.
Mitchell was the school's first Associate Athletic Director in the area of academics. He joined the athletic administration staff in December 1999 as Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Services after three years at East Carolina, where he directed their student development program. Prior to his stint at ECU, Mitchell worked five years at his alma mater Wake Forest in many roles, including serving as assistant director of academic services from 1994-96.
Under Mitchell's leadership, academic success for student-athletes has flourished at UofL. More than half of all student-athletes are consistently named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average each semester. Graduation rates for student-athletes have improved to all-time highs. Computer access, tutorial services, objective-based study halls and a new student retention program are among the significant advancements since his arrival.
A four-year football letterman for Wake Forest University (1987-91), Mitchell is an accomplished speaker and has addressed the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) National Conventions, NCAA Life Skills National Convention, Nike All-America Camps and various universities, high schools and grade schools.
Active in the community, Mitchell has served on various boards including 100 Black Men of America, Clear Channel Communications, Amobi Okoye Foundation, National Collegiate 100 and Chestnut Street YMCA. He is a member of Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Institute for Sport and Social Justice (Institute SSJ) and the N4A. He also serves as the primary advisor for the Collegiate 100, a mentoring organization he chartered at UofL in 2004.
A native of Eastville, Va., Mitchell graduated from Northampton High School and continued his education at Wake Forest University, where he earned both his bachelor's (1992) and master's (1995) degrees.
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