Little out as AD at ECSU; Dr. Angelia D. Nelson appointed Interim

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Thurlis Little, an iconic figure in Elizabeth City State athletics, has been fired as athletic director.

While a press release from the university that was emailed shortly before the close of the business day Wednesday announcing the appointment of Dr. Angelia Nelson as the interim athletic director made no mention of Little, he confirmed in a telephone conversation Wednesday night that he was no longer the athletic director.

“It was a decision made by the administration there,” said Little, a former ECSU football standout who has been connected with the school for the past 38 years as a teacher, coach and administrator and has served as athletic director since 2007. “Of course, it was an ‘at-will’ position. That means that you serve at the will of someone else. So that was what was done at this particular time.

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Dr. Angelia D. Nelson
Interim Athletic Director
Elizabeth City State University

NELSON APPOINTED INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT ECSU

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Dr. Angelia Nelson has been named Interim Athletic Director at Elizabeth City State University effective September 4, 2012. A national search is underway to fill the position on a permanent basis.

A former student-athlete for the Lady Vikings and a former Miss ECSU, Dr. Nelson returned to ECSU in 2010 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education and Assistant Athletic Director. She was named Chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education in the fall of 2011.

Dr. Nelson earned her B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from ECSU. She went on to obtain her Masters of Education in Sports Management from Florida A&M University and earned a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Sports Administration.

Her other professional/teaching experiences include: Past member of UNC Task Force on Athletics and Academics; Adjunct Professor, West Chester University, Executive Director, Dawn Staley Foundation, Head Women's Basketball Coach and Senior Women's Administrator, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.

She is also an experienced motivational speaker/author whose professional affiliations include Leadership, Inc., Toastmasters International, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Her book, "The Ghetto is Not My Final Destination," was published in 2005 For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings.

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS