RICHMOND, VA— Jolisa Williams of Bowie State University was named the 2023-24 John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) on Tuesday during the CIAA Spring Administrators Awards celebration. This is the third time Dr. Williams has received this honor and the first at Bowie State. Her predecessor, Greg Goings, won the award in 2008-09.
The SID of the Year Award is named after veteran public relations and sports information professional John Holley. A native of Baltimore, MD, Holley directed the public information, publishing and sports information programs at Albany (Georgia) State College for 14 years. Additionally, he has held public relations positions at Morgan State University, Mansfield (Pa.) University, and Lincoln (Mo.) University. Holley also served as sports information director at Norfolk State University and Morehead (Ky.) State University.
“I am extremely grateful and honored to receive this prestigious honor,” said Dr. Williams. “It would not be possible for me to receive this award without my student interns, also known as the BSU Athletics Media Creative Team, as well as the relationships built between my vice president of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Clyde Doughty, Jr., our coaching staff, administration and, most importantly, our student-athletes at BSU. I sincerely share this award with my other 12 professional sports communicators at CIAA and my team of creative students at BSU.
A native of Charles City, Virginia, Dr. Williams is coming off her first year as vice president of the CIAA North Division after previously serving as president of the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association (SIDA). In addition to her membership and management board leadership, Dr. Williams did notable work in 2023-24 for Bowie State Athletics and has done so since arriving in 2021. Now in her third year at BSU, Dr. 13 teams college sports charts frequently, including preview stories, game recaps, game statistical grades for required sports teams, all-conference charts, game days, in-game charts, individual accolades that are some of the best charts in the CIAA. the department’s social media presence was non-existent, other than Twitter (X), until Dr. Williams arrived. Now, Bowie State Athletics has multiple platforms to promote all 13 varsity sports teams offered and each sports team receives appropriate promotions and support. Instagram has more than 3,000 followers (it didn’t exist before she arrived), Twitter (X) has almost 9,000 followers (before she took over there were 5,497 followers). Facebook had 508 likes and 531 followers when she arrived and now has over 1,100 followers and 851 likes. BSU Athletics broadcasts are one of the premier broadcasts in the conference. Dr. Williams strives to be the best as her team broadcast all home volleyball, softball, soccer, and men’s and women’s basketball competitions for 2023-24, which included commentators, multiple camera angles, replay, and scoreboard , as well as post-game interviews.
A 2012 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. As a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Falcons women’s basketball team, Williams served as the starting point guard and contributed to the CIAA West Division title in 2009–10, as well as three highest CIAA team GPA awards for women’s basketball during its management. Williams earned a master’s degree in Sports Management from Virginia State University in 2014 and a doctorate in Athletic Administration from Northcentral University in 2022.
Williams is a member of Women Leaders, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BC-SIDA) and most recently graduated from the prestigious Dr.
For the most up-to-date information about Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, visit bsubbulldogs.com.
