BALTIMORE, Md./February 27, 2026 — Inside a ballroom filled with crowns and confidence, the CIAA contingent of athletes, students, faculty and administrators reflected on women's worth on the professional landscape. The theme of the 2026 CIAA Women’s Empowerment Brunch was, “She’s Coming Home."
JCSU President Dr. Valerie Kinloch attended the brunch and reflected on the theme.
“The Women’s Empowerment event spoke deeply to me. It reaffirmed the power of women — in how we live, how we lead, how we move through the world, and how we uplift others," she said.
Held during CIAA Tournament Week in Baltimore and sponsored by Food Lion and Nationwide, the annual gathering convened leaders across athletics, higher education, business, and media. The theme carried layers of meaning — a return to purpose, to identity, to community .
“The CIAA Women’s Empowerment Brunch is a celebration of the leadership, excellence, and influence of women across our conference and beyond,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacque McWilliams-Parker. “We are proud to create space where women can connect, lead, and inspire the next generation.”
At the center of the morning was a fireside conversation between McWilliams-Parker and keynote speaker Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Hawks. Their exchange traced the realities of executive leadership in professional sports — from career pivots to visibility and representation.
“This is my dream job,” Proctor said, reflecting on a decade in NBA leadership. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years now, and I love it.”
She framed her legacy through representation — particularly for her daughter and young women entering sports and business.
“I really believe you can be what you can’t see,” Proctor said. “I wrote my book for my daughter, but it’s become something much bigger. Now I see my legacy as giving back and opening doors.”
JCSU student leaders from SGA, Royal Court, and Athletics claimed their space during the event. Their participation reflected a core JCSU value: commitment to cultivating young leaders across campus and community — a mission deeply aligned with the CIAA’s historic legacy.
“It’s powerful to see a Black woman at that level in sports leadership,” said JCSU SGA President Isabella Gonce. “It reminds us that our paths don’t have limits — only possibilities.”
SGA Vice President Islaea Anderson said the conversation affirmed JCSU’s leadership culture.
“At JCSU, we’re taught to lead with purpose and integrity,” Anderson said. “Hearing leaders like Ms. Proctor and Commissioner McWilliams Parker reinforces that we belong in every room we aspire to enter.”
JCSU student athlete and Ronald E McNair Scholar, Ethaliah Edouard inquired about professional mindset. "In a career that does not prioritize self-help, how do you get through?"
"I learned how to delegate," Proctor said. "In order for me to do my best work, I needed to learn how to prioritize."
"You will always need a coach to hold you accountable even when you leave Smith," McWilliams Parker added.
Acknowledging the value of shared knowledge and mentorship, Mr. JCSU, Stanley St. Vilus, posed a question about life experience and the gift of perspective: "If you could talk to your 21 year old self, what would you say?"
"Everything happens for a reason," Proctor shared. "As long as you run your own race, you are going to be fine."
Dr. Kinloch, the 15th President of JCSU, commended the student leaders for their confidence and depth of engagement.
"The event reminded me that our students are the living embodiment of JCSU’s Golden Bull legacy. For a president, there is nothing more meaningful than witnessing students lead and live with purpose. In that moment, they reminded me of my own .”
The discussion moved naturally into the realities of high-pressure leadership and the importance of restoration — themes increasingly central across athletics and higher education.
“It’s about figuring out how to get back when I’m out of flow,” Proctor said. “I don’t see mistakes — they’re all lessons.”
Proctor described how the Atlanta Hawks implemented mandatory mental-health leave during the pandemic — a practice that has reshaped workplace expectations.
“During COVID, we gave our teams mental-health weeks — mandatory time off,” she said. “By force: take your vacation. It’s okay. I’m grateful we’ve evolved to have more flexibility in life.”
McWilliams-Parker emphasized that the CIAA has long supported a holistic approach to work and leadership.
“Mental wellness has always been part of the conversation at the CIAA,” she said. “We are intentional about caring for the whole person — not just the professional.”
Both leaders underscored that advancement requires not only mentors but sponsors — advocates who create access and opportunity. McWilliams Parker reinforced the ethical responsibility of leadership in a profound statement.
“Leaders don’t destroy souls,” she said. “Leaders inspire souls.”
Strong leadership requires trust in expertise and collaboration, McWilliams Parker added. A strong leader builds a strong team.
One of the most candid moments came as Proctor described being told early in her career that she was “too creative” for the NBA — feedback that forced a pivot into media before she ultimately returned to the league at the executive level.
“I had no choice but to pivot,” she said. “Everything happens for a reason. As long as you run your own race, you’re going to be fine.”
Proctor closed with a declaration that drew sustained affirmation across the ballroom:
“My superpower is being a Black woman.”
For JCSU students in attendance, the exchange reinforced both aspiration and readiness.
“Events like this show us what leadership looks like at the highest level,” Anderson said. “And it confirms that JCSU is preparing us to get there.”
The Women’s Empowerment Brunch affirmed the CIAA's national influence in advancing Black women across athletics, business, and higher education — and highlighted Johnson C. Smith University’s visible, intergenerational strength.