What is MALT?
The purpose of the Muhlenberg Athletic Leadership Team (MALT) is to connect surrounding communities with campus athletics and educate student-athletes about important social issues and how they can take action to make a difference in their community. It is also intended to advocate for student-athletes’ best interest on a national level as members of the National SAAC. MALT advertises and encourages the attendance of sporting events and the coming together of the student body. Student-athletes can become a MALT Representative by showing initiative and passion about Muhlenberg athletics, being a dedicated student-athlete who performs in the classroom and on the field/court, and being well-respected and a leader among your peers and teammates.
MALT Representatives
Head in the Game
Head in the Game recognizes that student-athletes from all sports face challenges with things like time management, perfectionism and performance anxiety and provides a space for bonding, venting and learning how to cope. Weekly meetings are held on Sundays to learn about and advocate for mental health in the athletic community so that those around us are better supported.
Head in the Game Executive Board
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Kaitlyn Buurman | President |
| Dani Roban | President |
| Mikayla DeMichele | Vice President |
| Kaya Mahy | Secretary |
| Danielle Sautner | Fundraising |
| Jamie Carfagna | Social Media Coordinator |
| Erin DiSandro | Social Media Coordinator |
| Ava Sullivan | Event Coordinator |
| Gabe Tamarkin | Event Coordinator |
| Raya Kunes | Treasurer |
Centennial Conference SAAC
Snell-Shillingford Symposium
The Snell-Shillingford Symposium is a weekend affair where female undergraduate students attend seminars on various issues pertaining to coaching and athletics. The symposium was started in 1999 by then-Bryn Mawr College athletic director Jen Shillingford to encourage women undergraduates to enter the field of coaching. Female athlete representatives and coaches from member schools, including Bryn Mawr, Dickinson, Franklin and Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, McDaniel, Muhlenberg, Swarthmore, Ursinus, and Washington College, converge to participate in sessions designed to empower women in the coaching profession and to encourage them to take up the legacy of those who have gone before them.
CC Snell-Shillingford Leadership Symposium
Jamie Carfagna's Summary of Snell-Shillingford Symposium
Conventions
Phoenix Convention: January 11 and 13, 2024
Every D3 and D2 school attend Athletic Director's attend the convention. This was the first year that student-athletes had a voice in determining rules for D3 NCAA. Student-athletes had the opportunity to sit in several meetings, where they learned about what happens in the NCAA, regarding rules. They also listened to conversations about athletic trainers, and their responsibilities at each school and how to improve their jobs when it comes to keeping athletes healthy. In addition, student-athlets sat in the LGBTQ+ athletes of the year, meetings about NIL deals within D3, and the Women of the Year Sports Award. Lastly, they got to hear from the NCAA President and participate in Special Olympics.
"This was the 50th year of D3 so it was a really cool experience, since it was also the first year student-athletes can vote." - Jamie Carfagna '25
Indianapolis Convention: July 2024 (Headquarters of NCAA)
Nashville Convention: Winter 2024
NCAA Legislation
This is Division 3's philosophy statement, which shows everything that was voted, and passed, at the previous convention (Phoenix in this case).
Women & Minority
DEI Centennial Conference Strategic Plans
Student-Athlete Inclusion Policy Centennial Conference
D3 Week
Division III week concluded on April 7 with many institutional SAAC groups getting involved through campus events. Overall, it was a successful week on campus, at conference offices and even on social media where #whyd3 and #d3week were trending on Twitter.
Muhlenberg's 2024 D3 Week Schedule
Tuesday, April 2nd: Why D3?
Wednesday, April 3rd: Special Olympics All-Sports Camp (Pictures Below with More Description)
Thursday, April 4th: Nutrition for Athletes with Alexa Roseberry
Friday, April 5th: Chi Alpha Sigma Ceremony
StepUp!
StepUp! is a bystander intervention program that educates participants to be proactive in helping others. The training, which is provided to all incoming and First Year Athletes at Muhlenberg, explains the bystander effect, assists participants in recognizing barriers to intervening, teaches strategies and skills for intervening successfully using the 3Ds of bystander intervention, and educates students on the resources available to them both on- and off-campus. Participants also engage in practicing these skills, and what intervention may look like, by responding to written scenarios in the training focused on mental health and substance use.
"The StepUp! program grew out of a really wonderful partnership between the Department of Prevention Education and Athletics at Muhlenberg. There was a recognition that these skills are highly important for students to learn and really contribute to a sense of safety and community on not only an individual level, but a group or team level, as well. I also think going through this training as First Years really creates an expectation for how Athletics, and Muhlenberg as a whole, encourages students to care for the safety and well-being of themselves and one another. Furthermore, this knowledge is life-long. Stepping up and being an active bystander is something we all engage in throughout our lives and I love that we're able to provide this program to help these skills become second nature for our students. I look forward to it continuing on!" - Karmen Brown, Associate Director, Prevention Education
Alcohol Awareness
The Alcohol Awareness 101 training, provided to all Sophomore level student-athletes, takes concepts and applications students learn in the first-year StepUp! program, to the next level. The presentation focuses on helping students understand how alcohol consumption can impact performance (both before and after a competition), assisting students in recognizing the signs of intoxication for both themselves and others, providing them with safe practices should they choose to consume alcohol, and discussing consent in the context of alcohol consumption. Similar to StepUp!, students engage in practicing these skills, and what intervention may look like, by responding to written scenarios in the training and learning about resources available to them both on- and off-campus.
"The Alcohol Awareness 101 training is another wonderful example of the partnership between the Department of Prevention Education and Athletics, as well as a showcase for the care Athletics staff has for the health, safety, and well-being of their student-athletes. One of the great things about this training is that it builds upon skills student-athletes have already gained by participating in StepUp!, but requires a different, and sometimes more challenging, application. We recognize, whether students choose to engage in alcohol consumption or not, it is vital for each student to recognize the signs of when someone might be in danger and what they can do to help. Furthermore, it's important for students to understand the impacts alcohol can have on their body and how that can change and look different from person-to-person, so each student-athlete can make the decisions that are best for them and their overall health and well-being." - Karmen Brown, Associate Director, Prevention Education
From the Desk of Lynn Tubman
Dear Muhlenberg Student Athletes,
The acronym M.A.L.T (Muhlenberg Athletic Leadership Team) was created by two student athletes, Ashley Polera '20 and Jordan Cimring ’20 to better reflect Muhlenberg student athletes’ values and goals while representing the College at the Centennial Conference and on the national level within NCAA DIII, as well as within our athletics department. M.A.L.T replaced the Student Athlete Advisory Committee acronym, S.A.A.C, to better represent Muhlenberg’s student leaders. I believe M.A.L.T serves as a key group within the department of athletics. Our coaches, staff and administrators strive to provide a positive, well rounded student athlete experience. Our mission, goals and daily decisions revolve around our commitment to the student athlete. The department values M.A.L.T’s contributions to the student athlete experience and relies on M.A.L.T to serve as the voice of the student athletes.
I encourage all of our student athletes to learn more about M.A.L.T, as it provides a platform for the student athletes’ engagement and voice within the department. Take the time to explore the M.A.L.T webpage. Learn how you can grow and develop as a leader, participate in programs that serve our campus community and the City of Allentown, support other teams through “Pack the Place”, the opportunities are limitless. M.A.L.T’s committees, affiliations and programming are developed through feedback from, you, our student-athletes.
MA.L.T is a student athlete run organization, and it needs active representatives from each of our 23 Sports to truly represent our 1 TEAM. Click here to learn more about becoming one of your team’s M.A.L.T representatives.
Let’s Go Mules!
Lynn Tubman, Director of Athletics
Mini Mules
Mini Mules is a partnership program supported by both the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) and Athletics that seeks to introduce kids to various sports and activities. Paired with the elementary school’s academic support structure, Mini Mules offers an incentive for kids participating in the academic support program.
Special Olympics
The purpose of the Special Olympics partnership is to enhance the lives of Division III student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes through a mutual learning experience; provide a platform for recognition of Special Olympics athletes and Division III student-athletes within their communities; and raise awareness of Special Olympics, its programs and services. Through this partnership, Division III student-athletes across the country are encouraged to participate in existing Special Olympics events, create their own events, or otherwise serve to support the Special Olympics organization. The activities pursued by student-athletes will vary in each state and region, tailored to best utilize the student-athletes' time and local resources. Muhlenberg has held this event for the past three years and we partnered with the amazing Special Olympics of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Pocono Region!
Watch Service Electric Coverage of the Muhlenberg Special Olympics All-Sports Clinic.
