BOWIE, MD --- Bowie State University Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Clyde Doughty, Jr. announced the promotion of Dr. Jolisa Williams to the post of Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and Strategic Engagement on Tuesday.
Dr. Williams will serve as the number two within the department and will manage all strategic Athletic Department projects and initiatives; and assist in coordinating Athletic Department functions and events including donor events, game-day marketing and promotions, university team functions, and CIAA Conference and NCAA activities and tournaments. Additionally, Dr. Williams will assist, coordinate, and lead special projects including sport-specific marketing and brand enhancement plans, targeted external events, and donor engagement and cultivation activities while overseeing athletic communications for all 13 varsity sport teams.
"First and foremost, I'd like to thank VP Doughty, Jr. for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity to spearhead the external area here at BSU," said Williams. "I am truly thankful to be apart of the Bulldog family and want to see this department grow to new heights as it pertains to visibility, marketing, and philanthropy. I am ready to get things going and continue our mission to achieve more and dream big in providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes."
Dr. Williams joined the BSU Athletic Department in August 2021 as the department's Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations. During her time in Bowie, Dr. Williams has been instrumental in revamping the brand of the Bulldog athletics, spearheading the social media presence, Bowie State Athletics has several platforms to promote all 13 varsity sport teams offered with adequate promotions and support. To date, Instagram has over 3,000 followers (did not exist before she came), Twitter (X) has almost 9,000 followers (before she took over it was 5,497 followers). Facebook had 508 likes and 531 followers when she arrived and now has over 1.1k followers and 851 likes. Additionally, Williams has been the catalyst for the Bulldog Sports Network alongside the support of BSU TV, Bowie State has one of the top broadcasts in the CIAA. Williams also has played a vital role in the athletic philanthropy side.
"It has been a profound pleasure, both professionally and personally, to work alongside of Dr. Jolisa Williams," said Doughty, Jr. "In her very short time at Bowie State University, she has greatly assisted with moving the athletic department forward with major initiatives that have benefited our overall level of success. Dr. Jolisa Williams is passionate about athletics and deeply cares for enhancing the student-athlete experience. BSU is blessed to be Racing to Excellence with Dr. Jolisa Williams."
Prior to Bowie State, Williams spent the previous six years at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. serving the last three years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations. During her time at Shaw, Dr. Williams helped propel the Bears to new heights, wiled the department streaming platform also known as "The Shaw Bears Sports Network" in which the department streamed football, men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer and softball all in one season for the first time in the department's history. Over the years, Dr. Williams has had a great deal of experience covering championship-caliber programs at Shaw. Williams handled the publicity for the 2016 women's volleyball team, which captured their first CIAA championship in 21 years and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Additionally, she also managed the 2018 CIAA championship run for the Lady Bears women's volleyball team and second appearance in the NCAA tournament. As for the women's tennis team, Dr. Williams also had the pleasure of covering the Lady Bears three-peat (2017, 2018, 2019) CIAA Championship success and several NCAA tournament appearances.
Dr. Williams was named the CIAA John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year this year (2023-24), marking her third time receiving the award, 2018-19 and again following the 2016-17 year – which at the time was just her second year at Shaw.
A 2012 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Augustine's University, Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. As a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Falcons women's basketball team, Williams served as the starting point guard and contributed to the CIAA Western Division title in 2009-10 as well as three CIAA Team Highest GPA Awards for women's basketball during her tenure. Dr. Williams earned a master's degree in Sport Management from Virginia State University in 2014 and a doctorate in Athletic Administration from Northcentral University in 2022.
Dr. Williams holds memberships with Women Leaders, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BC-SIDA) and most recently became a graduate of the prestigious Dr. Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute in 2023.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
