Howard names Sondra Norrell-Thomas as Athletics Director

Howard University has scheduled a press conference where Sondra Norrell-Thomas will be named as athletic director, effective immediately.  Norrell-Thomas had served as interim athletics director since July 1, 2000 and becomes the first women named to the position at Howard.

Sondra Norrell-Thomas

Prior to serving as interim AD, Norrell-Thomas had been executive assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs and is currently the senior women's administrator for athletics.  She stepped into the position after formers athletics director Hank Ford's contract expired and wasn't renewed.

"Ms Norrell-Thomas possess a wealth of professional and administrative experience in collegiate athletics.  Her stellar career in athletics speaks to her ability to build programs rooted in discipline and integrity," said Raymond Archer, Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

Norrell-Thomas is a 36-year University employee who has been integrally involved in collegiate athletics for most of her career.  She served as the University's associate athletics director from 1974 to 1986, and was named as the University's first coordinator of women's athletics in 1972.  She currently serves as one of Howard's representatives to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the NCAA.  She also served on the NCAA council, the organization's decision-making body, from 1983 to 1986 and again from 1995 to 1996.  She has also served on the NCAA's Academic, Eligibility and Compliance Cabinet since 1997

She is the first female to be inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame and was the first female member of the committee that selected the conference's first full-time commissioner.  She was also the first female to serve as a consultant to the MEAC Council of Presidents/Chancellors.

As interim athletics director, Norrell-Thomas has hired 15 new coaches and worked in tandem with the Howard Division of Advancement to create "The Bison Express," the fundraising arm of the athletics department.  She has also worked to initiate marketing/revenue-generating initiatives for her department.

"She has been a driving force in athletics, for both women and men, since she first joined us in 1964," said HU President H. Patrick Swygert.  "We are honored to have her serve in this capacity."

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