Former deputy director of athletics at the University of Georgia, Carla Williams, has been hired by the University of Virginia (In Charlottesville…) to take the big chair as the new athletic director according to the school’s website UVAToday.
The hire makes Williams the very first African-American woman to ever hold the position among the NCAA’s Power Five conferences. She joins four other women to become the fifth on a very short list apart from the Power Five’s 64 schools.
President Teresa A. Sullivan and President-elect Jim Ryan offered glowing praise in their announcement on Sunday:
“The University of Virginia is excited to welcome Carla Williams to lead our athletics department,” Sullivan said. “Her experience as a successful student-athlete, coach and senior administrator at the highest levels of Division I athletics is impressive. Equally impressive is her commitment to education and the academic pursuits of student-athletes. Carla will also be a dynamic contributor to the University and Charlottesville communities.
“President-elect Jim Ryan and I agreed that we needed to work together on the search for UVA’s new athletics director. I appreciate Jim’s assistance and input during the search as we position the athletics department to build on the success it achieved under the leadership of Craig Littlepage.”
“I think Carla is spectacular,” Ryan said. “She is exceedingly well-prepared for this role, but more than that, she is fiercely committed to excellence in both athletics and academics and has a track record of success in both arenas. I cannot wait to work with Carla, a kindred spirit who sees leadership as a chance to serve those around her and to create the conditions for their success.”
Source: bossip.com
