Bliz Earns 1-MAC Administrator Award
9/3/2026 10:04:00 AM | General, Office of Student-Athlete Success
CLEVELAND, OH – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the recipients of the 2025-26 1-MAC Administrator and Student-Athlete Awards, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated excellence and made a meaningful impact through their commitment to inclusion, belonging and community.
Dr. Melanie Bliz of the University at Buffalo was named the recipient of the 2025-26 1-MAC Administrator Award, while UMass track & field student-athlete Mark Sten was selected as the recipient of the 2025-26 1-MAC Student-Athlete Award.
"It is an honor to recognize Buffalo's Dr. Melanie Bliz and UMass' Mark Sten for their exceptional leadership and their unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive environments, strengthening their communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes. Their dedication and impact reflect the very best of the Mid-American Conference and the positive difference our members can make on their campuses and in the communities they serve," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
Bliz has been a leader in advancing community, belonging and student-athlete engagement at Buffalo through innovative programming, partnerships and educational initiatives. Her work includes the creation of Horns Up for a Cause, an annual initiative that provides each Buffalo Athletics team an opportunity to support causes meaningful to its members, as well as More Than an Athlete, which connects student-athletes with campus partners through education and dialogue.
Through the Bulls Reading Stampede, Buffalo student-athletes connect with local elementary schools to promote literacy and mentorship. Bliz also serves as co-chair of the Stronger Together Task Force and has helped develop programming that celebrates the backgrounds and experiences of Buffalo student-athletes. Her leadership and commitment have contributed to Buffalo Athletics earning the Institutional 1-MAC Award five times.
"I am incredibly honored to receive the MAC-1 Administrator Award, but this recognition represents a "we" far more than an "I.", said Dr. Bliz. "Through our Stronger Together Task Force, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and campus partners have created opportunities for education and dialogue, celebrated the experiences and identities within our community, and expanded our impact throughout Western New York through initiatives like the Bulls Reading Stampede, food drives, and community partnerships. I am incredibly proud of how this work continues to grow through the ideas, passion, and commitment of so many people. This recognition reflects what is possible when we work together with purpose and reminds us that we are truly stronger together."
Sten has distinguished himself as a leader throughout the UMass community as President of Black Student-Athletes United (BSAU), captain of the men's indoor and outdoor track & field teams and an honors student in the Isenberg School of Management. His leadership has focused on creating opportunities for student-athletes from different backgrounds and organizations to connect, learn from one another and build community.
Under Sten's leadership, BSAU has developed partnerships with Athlete Ally, the International Student-Athlete Alliance and Athletes in Action, creating programming centered on identity, culture, faith and belonging. He has also expanded BSAU's reach across campus through collaborations with other student organizations, helping create an unprecedented level of visibility and engagement for an athletics affinity group at UMass.
"Winning the 1-MAC award is a sign that the work that we do is impactful," said Sten. "I sincerely believe that to uplift one's community is to uplift oneself, because through each other we find success."
In November 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive inclusion programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics with the creation of the 1-MAC Program, which began during the 2017-18 academic year.
The 1-MAC Program has continued to evolve, providing education and training, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes throughout the Conference.
Through 1-MAC and other Conference initiatives, the MAC remains committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience and creating opportunities that support student-athlete development, well-being and belonging.
MAC-1 Administrator Award:
2026: Dr. Melanie Bliz, University at Buffalo
2025: Tia Jameson, Ohio University
2024: Dan Bartholomae, Western Michigan University
2023: Julian Jones, Western Michigan University
2022: Taylor Jefferson, Bowling Green State University
2021: Jewel Cotton, Central Michigan University
2020: Dr. Chet Hesson, Bowling Green State University
2019: Cristy Freese, Central Michigan University
2018: Kathy Twist, University at Buffalo and Dennis Corbin, Western Michigan University
MAC-1 Student-Athlete Award:
2026: Mark Sten, University of Massachusetts, Track & Field
2025: Tyson Lee, Western Michigan University, Football
2024: Taji Johnson, University at Buffalo, Football
2023: Max Michel, University at Buffalo, Football
2022: Kai Caesar, Ohio University, Football
2021 Kamal Adewumi, Ohio University, Wrestling
2020: Priyana Kalita, Miami University, Women's Tennis
2019: Lexi Robinson, Central Michigan University, Track & Field
2018: Devon Patterson, University at Buffalo, Track & Field
Dr. Melanie Bliz of the University at Buffalo was named the recipient of the 2025-26 1-MAC Administrator Award, while UMass track & field student-athlete Mark Sten was selected as the recipient of the 2025-26 1-MAC Student-Athlete Award.
"It is an honor to recognize Buffalo's Dr. Melanie Bliz and UMass' Mark Sten for their exceptional leadership and their unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive environments, strengthening their communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes. Their dedication and impact reflect the very best of the Mid-American Conference and the positive difference our members can make on their campuses and in the communities they serve," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher.
Bliz has been a leader in advancing community, belonging and student-athlete engagement at Buffalo through innovative programming, partnerships and educational initiatives. Her work includes the creation of Horns Up for a Cause, an annual initiative that provides each Buffalo Athletics team an opportunity to support causes meaningful to its members, as well as More Than an Athlete, which connects student-athletes with campus partners through education and dialogue.
Through the Bulls Reading Stampede, Buffalo student-athletes connect with local elementary schools to promote literacy and mentorship. Bliz also serves as co-chair of the Stronger Together Task Force and has helped develop programming that celebrates the backgrounds and experiences of Buffalo student-athletes. Her leadership and commitment have contributed to Buffalo Athletics earning the Institutional 1-MAC Award five times.
"I am incredibly honored to receive the MAC-1 Administrator Award, but this recognition represents a "we" far more than an "I.", said Dr. Bliz. "Through our Stronger Together Task Force, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and campus partners have created opportunities for education and dialogue, celebrated the experiences and identities within our community, and expanded our impact throughout Western New York through initiatives like the Bulls Reading Stampede, food drives, and community partnerships. I am incredibly proud of how this work continues to grow through the ideas, passion, and commitment of so many people. This recognition reflects what is possible when we work together with purpose and reminds us that we are truly stronger together."
Sten has distinguished himself as a leader throughout the UMass community as President of Black Student-Athletes United (BSAU), captain of the men's indoor and outdoor track & field teams and an honors student in the Isenberg School of Management. His leadership has focused on creating opportunities for student-athletes from different backgrounds and organizations to connect, learn from one another and build community.
Under Sten's leadership, BSAU has developed partnerships with Athlete Ally, the International Student-Athlete Alliance and Athletes in Action, creating programming centered on identity, culture, faith and belonging. He has also expanded BSAU's reach across campus through collaborations with other student organizations, helping create an unprecedented level of visibility and engagement for an athletics affinity group at UMass.
"Winning the 1-MAC award is a sign that the work that we do is impactful," said Sten. "I sincerely believe that to uplift one's community is to uplift oneself, because through each other we find success."
In November 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive inclusion programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics with the creation of the 1-MAC Program, which began during the 2017-18 academic year.
The 1-MAC Program has continued to evolve, providing education and training, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes throughout the Conference.
Through 1-MAC and other Conference initiatives, the MAC remains committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience and creating opportunities that support student-athlete development, well-being and belonging.
MAC-1 Administrator Award:
2026: Dr. Melanie Bliz, University at Buffalo
2025: Tia Jameson, Ohio University
2024: Dan Bartholomae, Western Michigan University
2023: Julian Jones, Western Michigan University
2022: Taylor Jefferson, Bowling Green State University
2021: Jewel Cotton, Central Michigan University
2020: Dr. Chet Hesson, Bowling Green State University
2019: Cristy Freese, Central Michigan University
2018: Kathy Twist, University at Buffalo and Dennis Corbin, Western Michigan University
MAC-1 Student-Athlete Award:
2026: Mark Sten, University of Massachusetts, Track & Field
2025: Tyson Lee, Western Michigan University, Football
2024: Taji Johnson, University at Buffalo, Football
2023: Max Michel, University at Buffalo, Football
2022: Kai Caesar, Ohio University, Football
2021 Kamal Adewumi, Ohio University, Wrestling
2020: Priyana Kalita, Miami University, Women's Tennis
2019: Lexi Robinson, Central Michigan University, Track & Field
2018: Devon Patterson, University at Buffalo, Track & Field
Thursday, September 03
Thursday, September 03
Tuesday, September 01
Sunday, August 30
