BHM WCW: Jacqie McWilliams

Throughout the month of February, GladiatHers™ will use our WCW Feature to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) by highlighting African-American women who are currently making history in the sports world. These women are breaking race and gender barriers and are stellar examples of the power that GladiatHers™ possess. We’re calling these ladies our BHM WCWs. Our first BHM WCW is Jacqie McWilliams.

Jacqie McWilliams is the first woman to be named the Commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), an NCAA Division II conference predominately comprised of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As Commissioner, McWilliams works with the CIAA Board of Directors and staff and provides leadership in strategic planning, day-to-day management and financial stability for the CIAA. In addition to serving as CIAA Commissioner, McWilliams is one of only three women and three African Americans on the NCAA Board of Governors, the decision making body of the NCAA. Prior to taking on the roles of CIAA Commissioner and NCAA Board member, McWilliams was the NCAA Director of the Men’s and Women’s Division I Basketball Championships and the Director of Championships and Alliances. Before she stormed the front offices of college athletics, McWilliams was a champion student-athlete herself. A graduate of Hampton University, she was a member of the 1988 Division II Women’s Basketball Championship team and a member of the 1987 and 1990 CIAA Women’s Volleyball Championship teams. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampton in 1991, she went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Sports Management and Administration from Temple University. We salute Ms. Jacqie McWilliams for advancing the cause of African Americans and women in sports.