Charlotte, NC (May 12, 2026) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) proudly announces the addition of two new staff members who will support the conference’s continued growth in communications, creative services, marketing, and corporate engagement.
These new hires represent the CIAA’s ongoing commitment to innovative storytelling, brand development, digital engagement, and delivering impactful experiences that elevate the visibility of HBCU athletics and its student-athletes.
Janelle Sample Named Director of Marketing, Graphic and Media Design
The CIAA is pleased to welcome Janelle Sample as the conference’s new Director of Marketing, Graphic and Media Design.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Sample is a graduate of Claflin University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing before later completing her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. As a former CIAA student-athlete, she brings firsthand understanding of the CIAA student-athlete experience and the power of storytelling within collegiate athletics.
Throughout her career, Sample has developed experience in athletics operations, sports marketing, photography, videography, and digital content creation. She has also contributed to content creation efforts for multiple CIAA championship events, experiences that deepened her passion for HBCU athletics and creative storytelling.
“My passion for storytelling through sports and media has grown through every experience I have had within collegiate athletics,” said Sample. “I am passionate about creating content that not only captures attention, but also tells meaningful stories that reflect the culture, energy, excellence, and impact of HBCU athletics.”
In her role, Sample will oversee strategic marketing initiatives, branding, graphic design, and multimedia storytelling while helping strengthen the conference’s digital presence and fan engagement efforts.
Jamilyn Wallace Named Director of Sports Media & Creative Services
The CIAA also welcomes Jamilyn Wallace as the conference’s new Director of Sports Media & Creative Services.
Wallace is an athletics content creator from Mount Olive, North Carolina and a Fall 2023 graduate of Fayetteville State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Studies.
Prior to joining the CIAA, Wallace served as Assistant Sports Information Content Creator at Fayetteville State University, where she developed and produced athletics content designed to highlight student-athletes, programs, and campus culture.
“I’m an athletics content creator with a deep love for both storytelling and sports,” said Wallace. “I look forward to contributing to the CIAA at the next level by elevating the conference’s media presence and showcasing the culture and heart that define it.”
In her role, Wallace will support the conference’s sports media strategy, creative content development, championship coverage, and digital storytelling initiatives.
“We are excited to welcome this talented group of emerging professionals to the CIAA family,” said Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “Each of these individuals brings creativity, innovation, passion, and a strong understanding of the culture and impact of HBCU athletics. As we continue to evolve our communications, marketing, and business development efforts, it is important that we invest in people who can authentically tell our stories, engage our audiences, and elevate the visibility of our student-athletes and member institutions.
“These new hires represent the future of the CIAA and align with our vision to build one of the most innovative and recognizable brands in Division II athletics. Their energy, creativity, and fresh perspectives will help us strengthen our digital presence, expand fan engagement, enhance corporate partnerships, and continue showcasing the excellence and legacy that define the CIAA.”
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
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 and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.