Undergraduate and Graduate Spring Commencement 2024

Jacqie McWilliams-Parker has dedicated 31 years in intercollegiate athletics. After almost 10 years in championships at the NCAA, she is in her 12th season in her dream job as the CIAA Commissioner. She was thrilled to return to the place where her love for college sports and HBCUs began at Hampton University, Virginia Union, the CIAA, Norfolk State and Morgan State.

She has established her legacy with a 20-20-20 vision of learning, earning, and returning.

She received her undergraduate degree at Hampton University and is a member of the Hampton University Hall of Fame twice, once as a two-sport athlete and recently as a member of the 1988 DII NCAA women’s basketball national team. She is also a strong financial supporter of the university and athletics. She is a member of the Virginia union university Hall of fame for her commitment to women sports as a former coach and administrator and continues to contribute to the women’s program, the place that gave her start in the industry. She is a member of Temple Universities Gallery of success as an alumnus and where she has established a postgraduate scholarship for HBCU students interested in receiving their post graduate degree in sports management and hospitality.

Mrs. McWilliams Parker loves the values and opportunities that sports bring personally and professionally. Although she has worked intently with the CIAA Board and membership to sustain the conference short term and long-term to include inviting Claflin University and Bluefield State to the family, her advocacy for access and opportunities for college sports, HBCUS, women, girls and boys extends beyond the CIAA! She has and continues to serve on numerous committees and boards that fuel her passion to make a difference and to have presence when there is none by women of color or HBCUs. She holds herself accountable and responsible for having a voice at the table, planting, protecting and growing seeds in the profession, creating opportunities for Black and women owned businesses and making impact in the community. She prides herself in being strategic and having a strong belief system that can advance what feels impossible!

McWilliams Parker was a former member and president of the board for Women Leaders in sports, she is the chair for the HBCU 4 Power Commissioners, she is an active member of the Crown Jewel Links of Charlotte and Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple in Hampton, VA. She loves the Lord, the love of her life, her husband Shaun Parker and her legacy, daughter Samone Carpenter who will be attending Hampton University in the Fall of 2024!

Jacqie McWilliam-Parker is CIAA for Life!