Jennifer Lynne Williams is in her second year at Alabama State University and her first as the Interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Prior to being named the interim athletics director, Williams served in the role as Deputy Director of Athletics.

Williams has more than a decade of experience in athletics administration.  As the Deputy Director of Athletics, she managed the day-to-day operations of Hornet athletics and led the division’s external and community relations initiatives. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).

 

Williams came to Alabama State after spending four years as the Associate Athletic Director of Development and Executive Director of the Aggie Foundation at North Carolina A&T. Williams oversaw the giving initiatives for athletics and raised more than $4 million in donor revenue while doubling the number of donors for athletics.

 

Prior to her time at North Carolina A&T, Williams spent three years at DePaul University (2009-12) as the Assistant Director of Development. While at DePaul, she was responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the department's annual giving initiatives, implementing programs, and working directly with donors in annual giving, endowments, and capital projects. 

 

She also worked at Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly the National Association of Collegiate Women in Athletic Administration), volunteered at North Carolina Wilmington (2008-09) and worked at North Carolina Central (2005-07), where she got her start in athletics development.

 

A four-year letterman and two-year captain in women's basketball at the University of North Carolina, Williams began her professional career as a reporter for the Tar Heel Sports Network and a productions assistant for Fox Sports South. The Detroit, Mich. native earned her bachelor's degree as a double major in journalism and African-American history at North Carolina, and a Master's degree in athletic administration from North Carolina Central.

Earlier this year, Williams was named to North Carolina Central's 40 under 40 Class of 2016 honorees, recognizing young NCCU alumni who have made significant contributions in the arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service, or government.

 

Williams graduated magna cum laude with a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 2008. Her undergraduate years were spent at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) where she received a full athletic scholarship. Williams served as tri- captain of the women’s basketball team her junior and senior year. During her tenure at UNC, Williams earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors; was recipient of the 2003 Robin Roberts/WBCA Broadcasting Scholarship Award; and was named the Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for 2002 and 2003. 

 

On September 16, Williams was named to North Carolina Central's 40 under 40 Class of 2016 honorees, recognizing young NCCU alumni who have made significant contributions in the arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service, or government.

Williams graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and African & Afro-American History in 2004. She currently resides in Montgomery, AL  with her husband, Valdez and daughter, Harper Lynne.