For those not in the know, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is an HBCU institution with campuses on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix. It joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2016 and is a part of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), the sole HBCU conference in the NAIA.
Now UVI has made history by appointing its first female athletic director, Dr. Karen M. Carty.
“I am personally excited to have Dr. Carty join the University and lead our Athletics Department. She brings a wealth of experience and an authentic connection to the Virgin Islands, and the University,” said Dr. David Hall, UVI President, in a statement. “She is just what we need to expand and improve athletics at UVI. As we join a new conference in the NAIA, Dr. Carty is just the type of leader to take us to the next level of competitiveness.”
Dr. Carty arrives at the university with almost 20 years of experience in public relations, communications, sports marketing, sports administration, branding, social media management, content creation, event planning, fundraising, and leadership.
And she has deep HBCU roots as well.
Dr. Carty graduated summa cum laude from Norfolk State in 2004 where she played for the women’s tennis team and was named to the 2004 MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team. She received a master’s in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 2009 and then ultimately earned a Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration from Bradley University this past May.
She began her sports career in sports information at Norfolk State. After six years, she moved on to become the SID at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) before heading down to South Carolina State where she served as the Director of Marketing. There she also handled media relations for volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and softball.
From there it was on to Grambling State University as the Assistant Athletics Director for Media, Marketing, and Promotions and then to Bradley nas the Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing, Fan Engagement, and Diversity Initiatives.
Dr. Canty then headed back to HBCU athletics at the MEAC as the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications.
Now’s she moving to UVI as the university’s first female AD in the program’s 61-year history.
“I am thankful to President Hall, Provost McKayle, Interim AD Pole, and the search committee for selecting me to be the next Director of Athletics at the University of the Virgin Islands,” Dr. Carty said. “To be the first female AD at UVI is a major accomplishment, but what is even more special to me is that I get to serve in a leadership position on the campuses where my parents attended college. UVI has been in my blood since I was born, and I look forward to working hard to usher UVI Athletics into a new era of success.”
Congratulations Dr. Carty!
