Commissioner Request Form
Jacqueline (Jacqie) McWilliams was named the Commissioner for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 2012. She became the first female to serve as Commissioner for the CIAA and was the first appointed African-American female Commissioner representing NCAA Division I, II and III.
Prior to being named Commissioner for the CIAA, McWilliams spent nine years at the NCAA managing NCAA championships to include both the men’s and women’s Division I Basketball tournaments. She started her career in coaching, compliance and administration at Virginia Union University with career growth opportunities at the CIAA, Norfolk State University and Morgan State University prior to the NCAA.
McWilliams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in Sports Management and Administration from Temple University. She was two sport athlete at Hampton and was a member of the Hampton University 1988 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship team and Freshmen player of the year in 1988 and Player of the year for CIAA Volleyball in 1990.
McWilliams was inducted into the Sierra High School Hall of Fame (2004), Temple University’s Gallery of Success (2006) and Outstanding Alumni (2013), Hampton University Hall of Fame (2018), and Virginia Union University Hall of Fame (2021). She was also selected as a member of the 2013 class for Women in Sports Business Journal Game Changer.
She has spent 29-plus years in intercollegiate athletics serving on various committees and boards to include being selected as the President for Women Leaders in College Sports (2020), the NCAA Board of Governor, NCAA Cultural Diversity Committee, NCAA DII Management council and Samaritan’s Feet International Board. She currently serves on the board of directors for the John B. McLendon Scholarship Foundation, the Doug Williams Center Advisory Board, and the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force. She has received numerous awards for her leadership and contributions to the community.
McWilliams is the Co-Founder/CEO of Sudden Change LLC and she lives out her mission daily to advocate, serve and transform. Sports has been her pathway to finding success. She is a mentor and sponsor in the industry, woman of faith, motivational speaker, volunteers in her community, an active member of the Charlotte Crown Jewels Links Chapter of Charlotte and Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple (VA). Mrs. McWilliams Parker is the proud mother of Samone and wife to Shaun Parker, a former Hampton student-athlete and coach.
Currently, McWilliams serves on the following committees and boards in addition to her role as commissioner:
- NCAA Gender Equity Task Force
- John B. McLendon Foundation Board
- Doug Williams Center Advisory Board
- Chair of the DII Strategic Plan Committee for the Conference Commissioners Association
- Member of the Crown Jewels Link of Charlotte
- NCAA Charlie Whitcomb Leadership Institute Annual Presenter
- NCAA Emerging Leaders Annual Speaker
McWilliams' achievement in her time as Commissioner includes:
- Improved overall financial bottom line of the CIAA by more than $2.1 million.
- Launched a new CIAA logo design.
- Negotiated a 6-year extension valued at 2.5 million annually with Charlotte, NC for the CIAA Basketball Tournament and relocated the CIAA offices to Charlotte, NC.
- Negotiated a 7-year partnership with Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment.
- Brokered a partnership with AspireTV to television football and basketball games.
- Signed a conference-wide apparel deal with Under Armour and BSN and launched the first CIAA online store.
- Welcomed Claflin University as a new member of the conference.
- Launced the CIAA Sports Network.
- Created the campaign celebrating 75 years of CIAA basketball tournament and 15 years in Charlotte – over $650 million in economic impact.
- Negotiated the deal and the subsequent extension with Baltimore, MD to move the CIAA Basketball Tournament.
- Cultivated the partnership with NFL Leadership for HBCU/CIAA initiatives.
- Innovator for the CIAA Virtual Basketball Tournament in partnership with Baltimore with 9051 registrants and 1.4 million social media impressions.
- Executed Multi-year Agreement with ESPN Through at Least 2024 for Men’s and Women’s Tournament Championship Games to Air on ESPNU and All 22 Tournament Games.
- Executed in-person CIAA Basketball Tournament in Covid with an economic impact of 19 million in the first year hosted in Baltimore.
- Served as the 40th President of Women Leaders in College Sports