CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 8, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, recently concluded its annual Spring Meetings for its 12 member institutions.
The meetings brought together athletic directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives, compliance directors, and sports information directors from across the conference membership. General Assembly sessions included discussions on strategic plan benchmarks, NCAA committee updates, conference committee reports, and other matters impacting the Association and its member institutions. The event also included individual association meetings focused on governance, operations, and conference wide priorities.
The CIAA Spring Meetings serve as a key opportunity for institutional leaders to collaborate on issues impacting the conference and to advance the mission of the Association in support of student athlete success.
As part of the meetings, Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker announced the 2026–27 CIAA Management Council leadership slate and association representatives, effective July 1, 2026.
The CIAA Management Council serves as the conference’s primary administrative body, providing leadership and oversight on matters impacting the Association’s member institutions and student athletes.
"The strength of the CIAA has always been rooted in the leadership and collaboration of our member institutions," said Commissioner McWilliams Parker. "As we continue to build upon our strategic priorities, the Management Council plays a vital role in guiding conference initiatives, supporting our student athletes, and ensuring the long term success of the Association. I congratulate our newly appointed representatives and thank them for their commitment to serving the CIAA."
Denisha L. Hendricks, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Athletics at Johnson C. Smith University and chair of the CIAA Management Council, shared her perspective on the upcoming term and priorities of the Council.
"I am honored and humbled to serve our beloved CIAA in this capacity," said Dr. Hendricks. "During this term, the Management Council will take on several initiatives, starting with hosting a series of educational sessions entitled CIAA 101. These sessions will be designed for leaders within the conference governance structure to enhance their understanding of the structure, function, and processes of the CIAA and to level set expectations for conference office staff and membership. We have also taken on the task of conducting a comprehensive assessment of our membership awards. We will explore this process from start to finish, including the nomination process, award criteria, and timing of award presentations."
2026–27 CIAA Management Council Leadership Slate
(Effective July 1, 2026)
President
Denisha L. Hendricks, Johnson C. Smith University
Vice President / Athletic Directors Association Representative
Tony O'Neal, Claflin University
Northern Vice President
James Dubose Jr., Elizabeth City State University
Southern Vice President / Faculty Athletics Representative Association Representative
Cynthia Williams Brown, Winston-Salem State University
Senior Woman Administrator Representative
LaTaya Hilliard Gray, Elizabeth City State University
Faculty Athletics Representative
Sean Coleman, Bowie State University
Compliance Directors Representative
Dionne A. McCollum, Claflin University
Sports Information Directors Representative
Antoine Lynch, Shaw University
Athletic Trainers Representative
Roland T. Lovelace Jr., Virginia State University
Student Athlete Advisory Committee Representative / National SAAC Representative
Darius Satterfield, Elizabeth City State University
The Management Council is composed of representatives from the conference’s key constituent groups and serves as the primary administrative governing body of the CIAA. The Council is responsible for reviewing and recommending policies, guiding conference initiatives, and supporting the overall mission of the Association while enhancing the student athlete experience across all 12 member institutions.
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.