The Big 10, SEC, Big 12, ACC and Pac-12 have a new Power Five to compete with, only now it’s out of the MEAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This HBCU Power Five is all Black and consists of five female athletic directors who are leading their programs to new heights in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s an inspirational site to behold, particularly for MEAC commissioner, Sonja. O. Stills, who became the conference’s first female commissioner in October 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe MEAC is clearly showing that female leaders are the norm and that given the opportunity, we will rise to the occasion,\u201d said Stills on the MEAC’s site<\/a>. \u201cWhat an amazing way to show the progress of Title IX during its 50th anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The five women from the eight-member HBCU conference are Tara A. Owens (Maryland Eastern Shore), Alecia Shields-Gadson (Delaware State), Melody Webb (Norfolk State), Dena Freeman-Patton (Morgan State) and Keshia Campbell (South Carolina State).<\/p>\n\n\n\n College sports often lack diversity in positions of leadership, so the MEACs Power 5 is as significant as it is powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is no excuse why an organization or institution cannot find a diverse pool of talented and experienced women of color who can lead in a male-dominated field,\u201d said Stills. \u201cI am extremely proud to be surrounded by such wonderful women who share in the vision of the conference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only do they share the same vision, but they all share similar backgrounds, including lengthy experience in athletics administration. Some even have collegiate coaching experience. <\/p>