Dr. Howard Croom Re-Joins Oregon State As Associate AD
August 15, 2022 | Administration
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Former football player Dr. Howard Croom has rejoined Beaver Nation as Oregon State's Associate Athletic Director - Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Student Services, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Barnes announced on Monday.
"We are really excited to welcome back Dr. Howard Croom to Oregon State in this extremely important role," said Kimya Massey, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer. "As a lifelong Beaver, he understands the culture and dynamics here on campus and in our great community. When we drafted our strategic plan a few years ago, there has always been a goal to hire a stand-alone Chief Diversity Officer who understands the Student-Athlete experience. In Dr. Croom, we found the perfect combination of experience, education and passion that will serve him well in this role. We are really excited to see what the future holds as we strive to build the best holistic Student-Athlete experience in the country."
Croom is the first Chief Diversity Officer for Oregon State Athletics. He is responsible for education, strategy and engagement with all DEIB principles and will be fully engaged with both student-athletes and athletic department staff. He also works closely with campus partners and be a part of several committees dedicated to inclusion and diversity.
Croom has oversight over student services, which includes student-athlete development (Everyday Champions), and will be a liaison with academic services for student-athletes. He is also now the sport supervisor for the Oregon State wrestling program.
"This is kind of a dream job for me, and it's a full-circle moment because the first job I ever had was in Academics for Student-Athletes at OSU," Croom said. "And now, I get to come back to a community, a campus, and an athletic department that I love and that, in a lot of ways, has shaped me into the person that I am today. To get an opportunity to come back to OSU Athletics and serve as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Student Services is an extreme honor. I appreciate Scott and Kimya for having the confidence in me to lead the department's DEIB strategy, as well as oversee student services where I'll have an opportunity to impact student-athletes' academic, personal, and professional development."
Croom has a bachelor's degree from Oregon State in sociology, in addition to a master's degree in public policy. He also has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. Recently, he was the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at USC.
A tight end, the Long Beach, Calif., native lettered at Oregon State from 2006-09.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
"We are really excited to welcome back Dr. Howard Croom to Oregon State in this extremely important role," said Kimya Massey, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer. "As a lifelong Beaver, he understands the culture and dynamics here on campus and in our great community. When we drafted our strategic plan a few years ago, there has always been a goal to hire a stand-alone Chief Diversity Officer who understands the Student-Athlete experience. In Dr. Croom, we found the perfect combination of experience, education and passion that will serve him well in this role. We are really excited to see what the future holds as we strive to build the best holistic Student-Athlete experience in the country."
Croom is the first Chief Diversity Officer for Oregon State Athletics. He is responsible for education, strategy and engagement with all DEIB principles and will be fully engaged with both student-athletes and athletic department staff. He also works closely with campus partners and be a part of several committees dedicated to inclusion and diversity.
Croom has oversight over student services, which includes student-athlete development (Everyday Champions), and will be a liaison with academic services for student-athletes. He is also now the sport supervisor for the Oregon State wrestling program.
"This is kind of a dream job for me, and it's a full-circle moment because the first job I ever had was in Academics for Student-Athletes at OSU," Croom said. "And now, I get to come back to a community, a campus, and an athletic department that I love and that, in a lot of ways, has shaped me into the person that I am today. To get an opportunity to come back to OSU Athletics and serve as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Student Services is an extreme honor. I appreciate Scott and Kimya for having the confidence in me to lead the department's DEIB strategy, as well as oversee student services where I'll have an opportunity to impact student-athletes' academic, personal, and professional development."
Croom has a bachelor's degree from Oregon State in sociology, in addition to a master's degree in public policy. He also has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. Recently, he was the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at USC.
A tight end, the Long Beach, Calif., native lettered at Oregon State from 2006-09.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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