CHARLOTTE, NC (July 14, 2025) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is proud to announce the hiring of Matisse Lee as its new Associate Commissioner for External Partnerships & Special Projects, effective July 14, 2025. Lee brings more than a decade of intercollegiate athletics experience and a proven track record of leadership, program development, and student-athlete advocacy from her longstanding tenure at Claflin University.
In her new role, Lee will lead the CIAA’s external relations strategy, fostering impactful partnerships and managing special projects that advance the mission and visibility of the conference. She will also contribute to the CIAA’s long-term strategic planning and lead initiatives around the integration of emerging sports and e-sports into the conference’s athletic and championship framework.
“Matisse is not only a seasoned leader, but she’s also someone who truly understands the heart of the CIAA,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “Her passion for student-athletes, her deep connection to our member institutions, and her authentic approach to building partnerships make her the perfect fit for this role. I’ve watched her grow within this conference, and it’s incredibly special to now welcome her to our team. We’re not just gaining a teammate; we’re gaining a champion for the future of the CIAA.”
Lee’s transition to the CIAA is a natural progression from her role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Student-Athlete Affairs at Claflin University, where she has spent more than 12 years cultivating student-athlete development, guiding internal operations, and leading strategic projects. As a key member of Claflin’s senior leadership team, she provided oversight across multiple departments and was instrumental in strengthening the university's student-athlete support programs. She also served as the longtime advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), creating pathways for student-athlete leadership and engagement.
Her commitment to student-athlete well-being and holistic development earned her the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year Award in 2024, a testament to her impact within the conference and among peer institutions.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Lee currently serves on the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee, helping to shape national leadership representation across the division.
Prior to her administrative career, Lee led the Claflin softball program as Head Coach for seven seasons, compiling an impressive 196-123 record and guiding her teams to national statistical championships and multiple SIAC division titles. Her coaching success is rooted in her own accolades as a former collegiate standout and EIAC Pitcher of the Year in 2005.
A proud native of Eutawville, S.C., Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Claflin University and a Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine. She is a graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy and has participated in numerous NCAA leadership initiatives, including the Division II Women & Minorities Mentoring Program and the NCAA/Women Leaders in College Sports Leadership Enhancement Institute.
Lee is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is active in several professional organizations including NACDA, Women Leaders in College Sports, and N4A, where she serves on the Student-Athlete Development Committee. She is the proud mother of 15-year-old daughter, Raleigh.
“It is an incredible honor to join the CIAA in this capacity,” said Lee. “This conference has helped shape so much of who I am, and I am excited to now help shape its future. I look forward to building meaningful partnerships, expanding opportunities and continuing the legacy of excellence that defines the CIAA.”
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications & External Partnerships
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.