Related Content
•
Learn more about WoSIDA at: CoSIDA.com/WoSIDA
•
Previous Women to Watch Features: February: Jill Guise, John Hopkins | January: Natalie Davis, Co-Lin | December: Sammi Wellman, California Baptist | November: Jenna Willhoit, Dayton
WoSIDA Women to Watch: March 2018
Jolisa Williams, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
Shaw University
by Chevonne Mansfield, LEAD1 Director of Communications/WoSIDA steering committee chair
What got you into sports information/how did you get started?
I got into sports information during my first year of graduate school at Virginia State University. Peggy Davis (Athletic Director at VSU) gave me an opportunity to work in athletics as an intern and one day she called me in her office and told me that she needed me to learn how to do stats and write stories (due to there not being an SID at that particular time). From there, we began taking road trips to games at Chowan where I practiced in-game statistics alongside the great Meredith Long (Deputy of Athletics/SWA) and former SID Allie Kolezynski (Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Operations – MEC) and the rest is history.
What is the dynamic working with coaches and players in men’s sports, in particular football? Do you think it would be different if you were a man?
Working with men coaches is no different from working with our women coaches here. I work well with our football coach Adrian Jones. For the most part, I get what I need whether it is roster info, schedules and other related information to football and he is very easy to work with to get things done. I don’t think it would be different if I was a man, I think that he knows that I am good at what I do and he appreciates what I do for him and his program despite being a one-woman shop and having to jungle 13 different teams at Shaw.
What is the most memorable moment from your SID career?
My most memorable moment from being an SID so far would have to be on May 16 when I was named the 2017 CIAA John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year award in just my second year because it was a goal of mines to accomplish the first day I stepped on the campus of Shaw University. I wanted to be great, I watched Allie (former SID at Chowan) earn that honor back-to-back years because of how hard she worked and the good content she consistently put out. It inspired me to want to be if not better or just as good as she was. It was a huge accomplishment not only for myself but also for individuals like Peggy Davis, Greg Goings, Romanda Noble-Watson, John Westbrook and Eric Moore (and many more) that helped me get to where I am today.
Who is the most memorable/well known student-athlete you’ve worked with?
The most memorable/well known student-athlete I have worked with would have to be Larry Richardson, II whom was a former standout men’s basketball player at Shaw. He was also one of my Mass Communication student interns.
He performed well on and off the court, he was a member of SAAC and just an overall great individual to work with and follow his last two seasons at Shaw.
Why do you enjoy working at your school?
I enjoy working at Shaw because of the student-athletes, the rich history, pride and tradition that the University has in athletics. Dr. Alfonza Carter, my Athletic Director allows me to do my job and he supports whatever idea I may bring to the table to enhance my area and ultimately impact the brand of athletics at Shaw.
What is the best part of the profession?
The best part of the profession is working alongside different colleagues like myself, seeing student-athletes compete and fight on the playing fields and then going off to graduate and begin their own careers. I think just being around sports in general is the best, sometimes it does not feel like my profession is a job. I’m just very thankful to be doing something I love and enjoy on an everyday basis.