Leading Through Change: Bowie State’s Jolisa Williams Earns National Resilience Award

Dr. Jolisa Williams has built her career by stepping up when her team needs her most, from running the point at Saint Augustine's University to leading Bowie State University's athletics department. Now that steady leadership has earned national recognition.

Dr. Williams, interim vice president for intercollegiate athletics and recreation at Bowie State, has received the 2026 BSN SPORTS Resilience Award from Women Leaders in Sports. The award honors an individual who has shown extraordinary perseverance, adaptability and strength in the face of adversity, and whose commitment inspires others to keep moving forward.

Women Leaders in Sports works to advance women at every stage of their careers in the sports industry, including through its Women of Color Commitment, which aims to expand access and visibility for women of color in sports leadership.

"Stepping into an interim leadership role at Bowi State has been challenging, rewarding and a tremendous growth experience," Dr. Williams said. "I'm reminded everyday that I'm standing on the shoulders of incredible leaders who have poured into me and shaped my journey. This honor is a reflection of their impact."

She joined Bowie State as assistant athletic director for media relations and later became associate athletic director for external operations and strategic engagement, the department's No. 2 role. She oversaw strategic initiatives, donor engagement, game-day marketing and communications for all 13 varsity sports before stepping into interim leadership of the department.

Adaptability has defined her path. At Shaw University, she rebuilt the athletics media operation, launched a weekly podcast and created a streaming network that carried seven teams in a single season for the first time in school history. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) twice named her its John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year.

She has also helped shape the conference itself. Williams serves as CIAA Northern Division vice president on the Management Council and is a 2023 graduate of the Dr. Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute.

A former four-year letterwinner and starting point guard, Williams earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Saint Augustine's, a master's degree in sport management from Virginia State University and a doctorate in athletic administration from National University.

Her recognition sends a powerful message to Bulldog student-athletes, especially the young women who see in her what leadership in sports can look like. It also reflects Bowie State's commitment to developing leaders who meet challenges with grit and purpose, on and off the court.

That is what it means to be Bowie Bold.