Charles W. Mentkowski Sports Law Award

Christian L. Bray, Law ’14
Milwaukee, Wis.

Christian Bray, who serves as senior associate director of athletics at Harvard University, describes her personal formula for success as “work hard, work smart, and exercise empathy.”

She enjoys helping student-athletes make the most of their time in college, both academically and athletically, and working with coaches to maximize resources, all while “building genuine relationships that will have a lasting effect in all of our lives,” she says.

Christian credits the Law School and the sports law program for honing her critical thinking skills, teaching her to use both logic and emotion, and reminding her to “appreciate the individuals I am working for and with.” Many Marquette professors were important to her, but she notes that Paul Anderson, director of the Sports Law program, has had “the biggest impact on my education and career.”

In addition to her role at Harvard, Christian also serves as a second-year member of the NCAA women’s volleyball committee, which selects NCAA tournament teams. She sits on Marquette’s National Sports Law Institute Board of Advisors and sponsors the annual Collegiate Issues in Sports writing competition and award. “Also, I try to get back to Marquette anytime I am invited to speak to current students,” she says. But her most rewarding work, Christian explains, is parenting her two toddlers, Chloe and Lola. “I love being their mom!”

Fun Facts:

Name someone (past or present) with whom you’d like to have dinner:

I would love to have dinner with former President Barack Obama. I have a few things I would like to seek his advice on!

Which Marquette class do you remember most and why?

Federal Income Taxation of Individuals. I was terrified to take it and surprised by how much I enjoyed delving into the tax code. Professor Lindsey made it fun!