Course Description

Host

Monique AJ Smith

Monique A.J. Smith, is a Leadership Strategist that guides Athletics Departments/Sport Organizations and Individuals who wish to advance in Athletics Administration/Sports Management careers through her company, Seeds of Empowerment LLC. Smith, a Sports Management veteran of 30 plus years, was Adjunct Faculty at Hampton University teaching Sports Management Courses. Spring 2023, Monique published her 5th issue of Significance in Athletics and Sports, that features Black Women sharing their ‘Specialized Knowledge’ in the Industry. All issues can be found it www.seedsofempowermentstore.com or Amazon. She is most known for her 9 seasons as the host of the internationally recognized weekly podcast "A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith”, that spotlights Women of Color in Athletics/Sports to her 2.9K Followers. Smith time in Collegiate Athletics includes a 13 year tenure as athletic conference executive for the historic Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). She also served in various athletic administrative roles on the campuses of Saint Paul’s College and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore within a ten year period. Smith was a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. With the understanding that knowledge is the key to success, Smith customizes her presentations to provide clients with leadership tools to prepare them to make informed decisions. Monique has dedicated her life to marketing the success of others, developing opportunities for the underrepresented and influencing decision makers to embrace diversity and inclusion. These actions have led to extraordinary opportunities to facilitator change and see strives in the development of others.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Directors of Athletics

    • Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree, Athletics Director, North Carolina Central University

    • Shantey Hill, AD for St. Joseph's College Long Island

    • Pat Thomas, AD UDC

    • Selina Kohn, AD Paine College

    • Shelia Wooten, AD Bloomfield College

    • Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, AD, Dillard University

    • Tara Owens, former AD Baltimore City Community College , Current AD Central State University

    • Portia Hoeg, Former Athletic Director at Allegheny College now AD at Rhodes College

    • Christyn Abaray former Athletic Director for Buena Vista Current AD for Lawrence University

    • Tamica Smith Jones, AD, University of California Riverside

    • Donnita Rogers, AD for Langston University

    • Dorianne Johnson, former AD Wilberforce University, Current AD Harris-Stowe State University

    • Dianthia Ford-Kee Athletics Director, Mississippi Valley State University

  • 2

    The 2nd Lieutenants of Athletics/SWAs

    • Monique Holland, Executive Sr. Associate AD for SMU Currently Senior Associate AD for Auburn

    • Mary McElroy, Executive Sr. Assoc AD, Temple University

    • Sharon Burmmell, Sr Associate AD/SWA at Georgetown University

    • NNenna Akotaobi, Sr. Associate Director/SWA of Swarthmore College

    • Lorretta LaMar, Sr. Associate AD, Naval Academy

    • Karin Lee, Sr. Associate AD/SWA Ball State University

    • Jackie Blackett, Sr. Associate AD at Columbia University

    • Derita Ratcliffe, Former Sr. Associate AD at UAB, Currently Sr. Associate AD, University of Arkansas