Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, the Director of Athletics at Delaware State, is a constant source of inspiration for the student-athletes she serves. Her every move is observed, her every decision noted, as she guides them toward excellence.
Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson’s children, Wynsome and Santana, are her driving force and reason for being a woman of excellence. Their influence propelled her to aspire higher, culminating in her successful defense of her dissertation on “Gender-Specific Leadership in Intercollegiate Athletics: A Qualitative Analysis of The Role of The Senior Woman Administrator and its Impact on Career Trajectory”. This achievement earned her a Doctor of Education in Higher education leadership from Delaware State this past March, a testament to her dedication and perseverance.
“My doctorate degree is not just a personal achievement, it’s a statement,” Shields-Gadson said. “As a mother, I am setting an example for my daughter, who is currently in medical school. I want her to see that hard work and dedication can lead to great things. And as a Black woman, I am proud to showcase what we can accomplish. It’s about more than just me; it’s about inspiring the next generation of women leaders.”
Her motor never stops.
Shields-Gadson’s work ethic is relentless. During a recent phone interview, she demonstrated her ability to juggle multiple tasks seamlessly. She paused the conversation to present awards in the high jump, then returned to the call to answer questions. Two minutes later, she had to attend a meeting due to the impending weather conditions that could affect the championship meet. This is a typical day in the life of Shields-Gadson, a leader who thrives in high-pressure situations, a key component of her leadership style.
Shields-Gadson demonstrated exceptional multitasking skills during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) basketball championships. While virtually presenting her dissertation, she sat courtside, her computer open and earphones in her ear, sharing her presentation on the trajectory of women in athletics and the senior woman administrator’s role.
While the day was hectic, especially with the Delaware State women’s team playing in the afternoon and the men’s basketball team playing in the evening, Shields-Gadson was grateful to her MEAC colleagues for stepping up to handle any of her responsibilities while she was on her dissertation call.
“Defending it was easy because I live it every day in athletics and in the work that I do,” Shields-Gadson said. “The hard part of the dissertation was finding everybody on the committee’s availability. Some had scheduling conflicts, and it just happened that it landed on a day when I was working the MEAC tournament and my basketball teams were playing. The MEAC was aware, and everybody was encouraging me, which helped. It was an awesome week.”
In her seventh year at Delaware State and third as director of athletics, Shields-Gadson has been a pillar of excellence in Dover. Leading 20 sports, she’s been recognized for three straight years as one of Delaware’s most influential sports leaders. Shields-Gadson has helped position Delaware State Athletics as a leader in providing opportunities for women to compete in Division I athletics. She has also been at the forefront of securing affiliate conference membership for women’s sports at DSU.
She serves on various NCAA and MEAC committees. She is currently a NCAA Division I council member and has chaired the NCAA Minorities and Opportunities Committee and the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee. Shields-Gadson currently chairs the Championship Administrative Committee and is a member of the Strategic Long Range Planning Committee for the MEAC.
During the 2023 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Shields-Gadson was invited to Essence Magazine’s The Black Women in Sports Brunch, where she served as a panelist for Changing the Game: Black Women and HBCU Athletics, highlighting the MEAC as a leader in providing opportunities for women to lead Division I athletic departments.
“I get to inspire women who aspire to be in leadership roles,” Shields-Gadson said. “They may feel like it’s hard, and at times, it may seem insurmountable because of some of the obstacles they may see, but I am also here to tell them that it doesn’t have to look scary. I remind them that they can do it. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I tell them to take one more step because they add up.”
With over 25 years as a senior-level administrator, head coach, and student-athlete, Shields-Gadson uses those unique perspectives to make hard decisions, provide tough love, and dispense home-spun motherly wisdom. Her experience has also helped her understand every nuance of the athletics department, including budgeting, scheduling, student-athlete well-being, and more.
She helps her staff find creative solutions when they feel that resources are limited, strongly advocates for them to seek professional development opportunities, and demonstrates enthusiasm for her staff’s job performance, which motivates them even more to raise Delaware State’s standard of excellence.
A Southern University and A&M College graduate, Shields-Gadson was an outstanding track and field champion and team captain. As head coach of men and women at Alcorn State University, she led the program to the first-ever conference championship in school history and was named Coach of the Year several times.
While at Coppin State, she was renowned for her expertise in the jumps and combined events, culminating in coaching standout athlete Christina Epps (Chiazor) to the USA champion, world championship team, and 2016 Olympic team in the triple jump. Epps currently serves as Delaware State’s assistant athletics director of compliance & student-athlete services and senior woman administrator.
Shields-Gadson’s exceptional leadership as a visionary with a big-picture perspective has consistently inspired high performance among her staff and student-athletes. Delaware State has cultivated a culture of pride through strategic partnerships, student-athlete-centric service, and facility enhancements, encouraging others to surpass their perceived limits.
“I’ve seen college athletics from all levels and perspectives,” Shields-Gadson said. “I know how they feel because I’ve been a coach and an administrator. I’ve been blessed that I’ve had enough experience to bless me and allow me to live in the moment and tell them from my perspective. What’s most important for me as a Black woman is being able to walk in my purpose. Every day, I feel like they have a shot at success, so I aim to support all my programs and ensure each student-athlete is set up for success after receiving their degrees.”
Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by College Sports Communicators (CSC) with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA).
