INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Bowie State University's Interim Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation, Dr. Jolisa Williams, has been selected as one of 21 athletics administrators nationwide to participate in the NCAA's 2026-27 Pathway Program, a yearlong leadership development initiative designed to prepare senior-level administrators for future roles as athletics directors and conference commissioners.
Williams is one of only four representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) selected for the 2026-27 cohort, joining administrators from Howard University, Elizabeth City State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The NCAA Pathway Program, established in 1997, is one of the association's premier leadership development programs. The initiative provides participants with intensive professional development, executive mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities focused on strategic leadership within intercollegiate athletics.
The 2026-27 cohort includes administrators representing NCAA Divisions I, II, and III institutions and conferences from across the nation. During the yearlong program, participants will engage in leadership training centered on budgeting, strategic planning, fundraising, governance, and addressing emerging issues in college athletics. The program also includes mentorship from athletics directors, conference commissioners, and university presidents.
The cohort convened in Indianapolis from June 21-25 for its first educational session. Division II and III participants will reconvene in Indianapolis, Oct. 18-23, before completing the program at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention in Orlando, Florida, during the summer of 2027.
"Being selected to participate in the 2026-27 NCAA Pathway Program is a tremendous honor and an important opportunity in my leadership journey as Interim Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at Bowie State University," said Williams. "The program will provide valuable insight, mentorship, and professional development that will help me continue to grow as a leader and better serve our student-athletes and institution.
"This opportunity is especially meaningful because of the support and encouragement I received from the late Dr. Clyde Doughty Jr. Clyde believed in developing future leaders and consistently challenged me to pursue growth opportunities such as this. I am grateful for his mentorship and proud to represent Bowie State while continuing the legacy of excellence he helped establish."
The Pathway Program has developed more than 300 alumni since its inception. Over the past five years, 26 percent of program participants have advanced to athletics director or conference commissioner positions, while more than 55 percent have earned promotions within collegiate athletics.
For the full 2026-27 NCAA Pathway Program roster, click here.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
