CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 27, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) welcomed Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives from across the conference to Charlotte for the 2026 CIAA SAAC Summer Summit, held July 22–24.

The three-day summit brought student-athletes and campus advisors together for leadership development, professional preparation, community engagement and collaborative planning. Participants gained practical tools designed to strengthen campus SAAC programs, elevate the student-athlete voice and prepare delegates to lead initiatives throughout the 2026–27 academic year. 

Summit programming included the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle at Johnson C. Smith University, financial wellness education, a tour of the CIAA headquarters, a fireside conversation with CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker, the 2026 SAAC General Assembly and a media development session. 

Food Lion hosted student-athletes at its headquarters in Salisbury, North Carolina, for “Beyond the Game: Fueling Your Future.” The professional development experience connected participants with Food Lion leaders through career conversations, interactive career exploration, corporate culture guidance, and executive networking. The program provided student-athletes with insight into career opportunities across the organization while helping them build skills and professional connections for life beyond intercollegiate athletics. 

“The CIAA SAAC Summer Summit gives our student-athletes the space to use their voices, learn from one another and recognize the influence they have within their institutions and throughout our conference,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “These young leaders bring valuable perspectives to every conversation, and we are committed to providing experiences that prepare them to lead with confidence, serve their communities and create meaningful impact well beyond their time in competition.” 

During the General Assembly, delegates elected four student-athletes to the 2026–27 CIAA SAAC Leadership Team: 

• Northern Division Vice President - Leila Jackson, Virginia State University
• Southern Division Vice President - Justin Wheeler, Shaw University
• Secretary/Historian - Summer McGee, Elizabeth City State University
• Media Coordinator - Janya Barnes, Johnson C. Smith University 

Darius Satterfield of Elizabeth City State University will continue to serve as CIAA SAAC president and the conference’s NCAA Division II National SAAC representative through January 2027. 

“It was such a blessing to be able to connect with fellow student athletes, administrators and partners, about the culture of our conference and how to advocate for ourselves,” recalled Northern Division President, Leila Jackson. “These experiences the CIAA puts together, to build leadership skills for athletes like me has equipped me to better advocate for athletes on my campus and across the entire northern division.”  

The CIAA SAAC serves as a collective voice for student-athletes across the conference. The committee promotes communication among member institutions, encourages community involvement, supports academic and personal development and provides student-athletes with a direct role in discussions surrounding NCAA legislation and the overall student-athlete experience. 

Media Contact: 
Anna M. Butzlaff | abutzlaff@theciaa.com 
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications 
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 

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. 

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