Mariah White knows how to make the most out of opportunities. The senior point guard at Cleveland State University, who recently transferred to Missouri State, was determined to play Division I basketball when CSU came calling. It proved to be the perfect fit for the Ohio native, who has excelled on the court, in the classroom and as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) first diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) chair. For her impact on her sport, teammates, friends and community, White is named the 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar.
“I had the opportunity to live out my dream of going to college and fulfill my education while playing basketball at a Division I level,” says White, who has been on CSU’s dean’s list and the Horizon League Honor Roll. “Being a student-athlete has given me opportunities I never thought I would have. It’s helped me grow into a leader on and off the court.”
Her leadership skills were tested early on in her college career when a new head coach joined the team her sophomore year. Chris Kielsmeier says White was a big part of the effort to unite the team and secure buy-in for his vision for the program. In her senior season, she has continued to lead, keeping players focused during the pandemic and helping lead the team to a winning season.
“She’s a vocal leader within the team and within the CSU community,” says Kielsmeier. “She has a competitiveness and a passion for many areas of her life.”
A big part of White’s work with SAAC this academic year included a voter registration initiative among student-athletes, which she cites as an extremely fulfilling experience.
“Since this is a newly created position, we knew she would be the right fit to lay the foundation for our committee,” says Dr. Robert Kleidman, CSU’s SAAC faculty advisor. “She spurred the development of our DEI framework.”
It was important to White to set the standard for the DEI committee while making sure student-athletes felt seen and heard and aware of what resources are available to them.
