Charlotte, NC (September 4, 2025) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is pleased to announce the addition of Pheadra Wyche as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Business Administrator and Symone Wright-Flowers as Graduate Assistant. Both bring valuable experience, energy, and passion that will support the conference’s continued growth and commitment to serving its member institutions and student-athletes.
Wyche will provide leadership across a range of administrative areas while supporting the CIAA’s day-to-day operations. She is no stranger to the conference office, having previously served as a Graduate Assistant in Compliance & Governance and Strategic Communications, where she gained insight into the conference's internal operations.
A proud two-time alumna of Johnson & Wales University, Wyche earned her Bachelor of Science in Sports, Entertainment & Event Management and her Master of Science in Sport Leadership before pursuing a Master of Education in Sport Administration at the University of Miami. Excited to return to the CIAA family, she looks forward to contributing her skills and dedication to the team.
“Pheadra’s experience and dedication make her an excellent addition to the CIAA team,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “She brings a strong understanding of our operations and will play a key role in supporting our administrative functions while helping the conference continue to grow and serve our member institutions.”
Wright-Flowers, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, began her college career at Grand Canyon University before transferring to Shaw University, where she earned a degree in Business Management. A standout student-athlete, she was a CIAA Conference Champion in the 400m hurdles for the Bears and went on to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Her connection to the CIAA also runs deep, having supported several events, including the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament and the 2025 Football Media Day. With a strong background in photography, videography, and social media, Wright-Flowers will assist across multiple departments, furthering the conference’s mission of enhancing the student-athlete experience.
“Symone’s experience as a CIAA student-athlete gives her a unique understanding of our conference and our student-athletes,” said Sr. Associate Commissioner for Administration & External Operations, Marcus Clarke. “In her Graduate Assistant role, she will gain hands-on experience across the business office, compliance, championships and operations, and communications, supporting the work of the conference while building a strong foundation for her professional growth.”
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 and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.