She was reluctant to be groomed for the role of Commissioner, but after spending an hour with Sonja Stills you will see exactly why she is the Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In this episode, Sonja takes us through her journey in the sports industry. Including why she only asked for one promotion in the last 20 years, the value of being present in your current role and being vocal about your ambitions, why it’s ok to ask for a promotion even if you’ve been in a role for less than a year, and why it’s essential to not only have a seat at the table but also have a voice.
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Sonja O. Stills has been a respected, well-known staple within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the past 20 years, and on Jan. 1, 2022, she took over as commissioner -- becoming the first female commissioner in the conference's history, as well as the first female commissioner of a Division I HBCU conference.
With a proven track record of accountability, efficiency, and passion, Stills has risen through the ranks within the MEAC, beginning with her tenure at the conference in October 2002. Stills has made a name for herself among her peers and other industry professionals for her never-ending dedication to the conference and its student-athletes, ability to grow and innovate, organization, team-first mentality, and goal-achieving initiative.
In January 2021, Stills was promoted to Chief of Staff/Chief Operating Officer of the MEAC. In her new role, she ensures that the Commissioner is carrying out the strategic objectives of the Council of Chief Executive Officers and the Delegate Assembly. Stills was the lead on all hiring, strategic and long-range planning, re-branding, and marketing, NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), conference budget, the renewal of the MEAC Basketball Tournament with the City of Norfolk, and all special events and activities.
Stills also created the MEAC’s Esports program, a new, cutting-edge initiative that began in the summer of 2020, as the conference and world continued to deal with the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. She took charge as the Director of Esports, serving as the key driver in developing regulations for the MEAC Esports Community and developing the MEAC’s esports strategy. Her goal has been to enhance awareness of the MEAC’s esports initiative by working with industry business leaders to encourage growth.
Much like overseeing the addition of Esports to the MEAC’s portfolio, Stills looks to enter a new tenure for the conference while continuing to bolster the respect, traditions, and love of the MEAC. She looks to deepen the communication with the member institutions, alumni, fans, and community, to express the strong desire and support for the success and sustainability of the Conference that transparently articulates its vision and strategy. The intention is to create a collaborative process in which the “new vision” for the MEAC is a shared vision that is all-inclusive athletically and academically.
Before her appointment to Chief of Staff/Chief Operating Officer, Stills served as the Senior Associate Commissioner for Administration and Compliance (June 2012-21), Assistant Commissioner for Administration and Compliance (July 2008-12), Executive Assistant to the Commissioner (July 2006-08), Senior Woman Administrator (June 2006-2021) and Director of Compliance (October 2002-08).
Prior to being named Commissioner, Stills elevated overall brand visibility for the MEAC. She negotiated over $683,000 in corporate partnership monies by working with major companies such as: iHeartRadio, US Marines, Home Depot, Hampton Roads Transit, JT Fisher Funeral Home, Priority Automotive, ESI, TowneBank, Glenmede Financials, House-Autry, CurtMont Food Services and Harley Davison. She assisted in negotiating a contract with Nike that brought over $9 million to member institutions. She operates with the financial interests of the conference; its member institutions and student-athletes are at the forefront for her. She designed and implemented the Athletic Eligibility Certification Review to assist institutions in preparing for the NCAA Academic Progress Program (APP) Data Review. She managed the budgets for the Conference Grant, Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund and Special Assistant Fund. She was instrumental in developing the MEAC Strategic and Long-Range Plan in December 2008, along with securing global creative agency 160over90 as the marketing company for the MEAC in 2020. In 2022, she oversaw the update of MEAC Strategic and Long-Range Plan.
As the Senior Associate Commissioner, Stills provided supervision for Conference staff, including Compliance, Championship, Media Relations, Finance, Corporate Partnerships, Multimedia/Marketing, Digital & Video and administrative support staff. She took the helm and managed the operations of the Conference Office in the absence of the Commissioner, coordinated all ancillary events of the Conference (i.e., Football Press Luncheon, Basketball Tournament Tip-Off Banquet, Cheerleading Championship, Pre-Season Basketball Press Luncheon, etc.) and Mid-Winter, Spring and Summer Conference meetings. During the conference basketball tournaments, Stills provided guidance and insight while monitoring the NCAA Academic Progress Program (APP) for member institutions to implement the APP Seminar with NCAA Academic and Membership Staff.
She also provided administrative support to the Commissioner for the Council of Chief Executive Officers and Executive Committee and conducted conference compliance workshops, reviews, and spot checks to ensure compliance with Conference and NCAA rules and regulations. She served as liaison to the conference’s Compliance Coordinators, Athletics Academic Support staff, Alumni Directors and Constitution and Bylaws committees, as well as assisting with other conference committees. Under Stills’ guidance as the Assistant Commissioner for Administration, she coordinated the MEAC Cheerleading Championship — the only HBCU collegiate cheerleading championship.
During her time as the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Stills provided direct support to the Commissioner, administrative support to the Commissioner for the Council of Chief Executive Officers and Executive Committee, managed the day-to-day operations and administration of the conference office, assisted the Commissioner by executing initiatives and special projects, evaluated functions, practices and the efficiency of facilities, and evaluated staff performance while providing leadership and guidance for personnel.
As the Senior Woman Administrator, Stills continued to work in conjunction with the senior leadership team within the MEAC regarding women’s issues and other issues that affect the membership. She coordinated the Senior Woman Administrators’ Women in Athletics Professional Development Workshop, coordinated the selection of the MEAC Woman of the Year and served as the liaison to member institutions’ senior woman administrators.
AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Before arriving at the MEAC, Stills served as Hampton University’s Coordinator of Athletic Academic Support for four years, and for three of those years, she was appointed Senior Woman Administrator. While at Hampton, she created the university’s first Athletic Academic Support Program and implemented the CHAMPS/LifeSkills Program. She provided academic advising, counseling, and assistance to student-athletes in areas of course selection, registration procedures, degree requirements, career planning, university resources and other related topics associated with academic performance for all sports programs.
While serving as Senior Woman Administrator, Stills served as the highest-ranking female on the senior leadership team regarding the administration of the athletics department. She coordinated student-athlete and corporate partner banquets and events, oversaw the supervision of the cheerleading program, and assisted in coordinating event management during home football and basketball games with gameday operations, marketing, and will-call.
A 1993 graduate of Old Dominion University, Stills earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling. While a student, she earned the Virginia Campus Outreach Opportunity League (VA COOL) Catalyst Award for creating a week-long community outreach program for the university. In addition, she served on the university’s President’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity. In 1996, she received a Master of Arts in Counseling (College Student Work Personnel) from Hampton University. She would later go on to graduate from the Sports Management Institute in 2002 and the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement in 2008.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Stills holds current memberships in the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Women Leaders for College Sports (WLS), National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors(NAECAD), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She also serves as a substitute for the MEAC representative to the NCAA Division I Council.
Stills is a former member of the NCAA Legislative Council (2008-11), Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association – Policy Committee (2008-20), MEAC Senior Woman Administrators Association Chair (2002), and Touraine Condominium Association Board Member (1997-2020).
Music By: Quanzaa
