LuWanna Williams Named Acting Director of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

LuWanna Williams

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Fort Valley State University president Dr. Paul Jones has named an experienced athletics administrator and compliance expert as acting director of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

LuWanna Williams' appointment was effective July 1. Williams, who is currently the associate director of athletics, compliance director and deputy Title IX officer at Fort Valley State University, is replacing Dr. Joshua Murfree, who resigned, but will assist with the transition through August 1. Williams will also be actively engaged in the process of selecting the next athletics director.

"I'm pleased that Ms. Williams has accepted my invitation to provide leadership for the athletics department during our search for a permanent replacement," Jones said. "I am confident she will provide strong leadership and be a tremendous asset during this transition."

For the past eight years, Williams has served in a variety of capacities at FVSU, including overseeing all aspects of student-athlete recruiting and certification by the university, ensuring adherence to all rules and regulations set forth by FVSU, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Williams earned her bachelor's degree from Mercer University in middle grades education and a Master of Science degree in education from Troy State University.

Williams has served on several FVSU committees, including: Judicial/ Student Conduct, Academic Appeals, Registration, Title IX and the Scholarship Committee. She successfully spearheaded the completion of the NCAA Compliance Audit and Blueprint Review visit in 2010 and the NCAA Institutional Self Study in 2012. Williams was selected to attend the 2010 NCAA Effective Facilitator Workshop, the 2015 and the 2016 NCAA Advanced Compliance Director Seminar and Training.

Before joining the Wildcat family, Williams was the executive director of a small school initiative with Communities In Schools of Georgia, Inc., where she was responsible for the oversight of more than 29 small schools spanning six different states. Williams managed and renewed a $6.1 million grant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was one of the keynote speakers at the foundation's small school initiatives conference.

Williams was a member of the 2001 class of Leadership Macon. She also is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and a life member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and Youth Affiliates, where she was named Woman of the Year on three separate occasions.

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS