1995 to 1996 – National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators

In 1995, Dee Todd became the first woman of color to serve as NACWAA president. Dee’s time as president saw growth in membership, increased sponsorship, a national search for a new executive director, and a “strengthened voice among the ranks of other national associations” (NACWAA Newsletter 13.4).

In the words of Dee: “We can make our dreams, and those of the women who paved the way before us, a reality. We are women in athletics; we are survivors; we should strive to share our experiences with each other. We must instill the need for hard work, honesty and determination” (NACWAA Newsletter Vol. 13.3).

Dee envisioned NACWAA as an association united and dedicated to empowering women through networking and support. In efforts to expand resources and create an impact for more women across the nation, Dee challenged each member to recruit at least one new member to NACWAA.

“EACH ONE – REACH ONE! This is more than a slogan, it is a charge to emphasize that NACWAA is an association for women from all backgrounds, beliefs, and talents to contribute to the overall success of women in the field of athletic administration. There is strength in numbers and even more strength in unity!” (NACWAA Newsletter Vol. 13.2).

Other major accomplishments from NACWAA during this time:

• The 1996 Fall Forum auction raised a record-high $10,191
• Coca-Cola became the official NACWAA drink at events
• In 1996, State Farm Insurance sponsored the second NACWAA Volleyball Classic with support from Nike

NACWAA continued to be committed to recognizing the achievements and successes of administrators working in athletics. Click here to view all NACWAA/ Women Leaders in College Sports award winners.

Betsy Alden, President-Elect, San Francisco State University
Sandy Barbour, Tulane University
Bridget Belgiovine, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Peggy Bradley-Doppes, University of Michigan
Debbie Chin, University of New Haven
Jill DeMichele, Arizona State University
Pam Gill-Fisher, University of California-Davis
Vivian Fuller, Northeastern Illinois University
Cary Groth, Past President, Northern Illinois University
Linda Hackett, Bryant College
Jo Ann Harper, Dartmouth College
Laurie Priest, Mount Holyoke College
Angela Taylor, University of Nevada-Reno
Peg Wynkoop, Wright State University

DeLores “Dee” Todd is a woman of many firsts in her career as a trailblazer. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University and a master’s degree from Governors State University, Dee worked as a teacher and track and field coach at the high school level. Nine years later, Dee was named the first full-time track and field and cross country coach at Northwestern University, marking the first woman of color head coach in the history of the university. Three years later, she was named Big 10 Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Dee became the head track and field and cross country coach at Georgia Tech in 1985, again etching history as the first ACC African American head coach. Two years later, she was named the ACC Track Coach of the Year.

In 1980, Dee became the first African American to appear on a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. On March 7, 2018, Dee was featured again on National Cereal Day.

Dee chaired the United States Olympic Committee, Minorities in Sports Task Force, and was the co-founder of the Project Gold leadership class. Many members of the Project Gold classes are successful athletic, political, and community leaders today.

In 1988, Dee became the first female and the first minority to serve as the assistant commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. For 12 years, Dee oversaw the growth of women’s basketball and several other sports in the ACC. In 1994, Dee and her SEC counterpart, Pat Wall, led the nation to drive three-person officiating for women’s basketball. She was also the first female to serve on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee. After 17 years at a conference office, Dee became North Carolina A&T State University’s first female athletic director.

After 30 years in the industry, Dee remains active through her retirement with intercollegiate athletics, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, and coaching boys and girls at the high school level.