Shelley Davis was named Senior Woman Leader for SCAD Athletics in February 2024 after spending over 20 years serving in various roles in the sports field. She most recently served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Sports Biz Careers, where she advanced the college and career readiness of underrepresented high school and college students through the sports business. Prior to that, Shelley's roles have included Senior Associate Commissioner, Senior Woman Administrator and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee of the Big South Conference where she managed women’s basketball, volleyball, and golf operations as well as the conference’s internal affairs.
Davis was also the Deputy Athletic Director at Howard University, including time spent as the Interim Director of Athletics there. She initially joined Howard in the role of Senior Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator. Her time at the Big South Conference was not her first role at the conference level. Prior to Howard, Davis was the Assistant Commissioner for Championships at the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Her other experiences include Director of Education and Professional Development at the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, and Assistant Athletic Director at North Carolina A&T State University.
Davis is a graduate of the 2017 NCAA Pathway Program, the 2014 NACDA Senior Administrator Mentoring Institute and the 2011 NCAA Minority Male and Female Leadership Institute, in addition to several other leadership institutes. She previously served on the NCAA Division I Championships and Sports Administration Cabinet and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee.
Davis graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University and was honored by her Alma mater as one of its Forty Under Forty Distinguished Alumni Awardees in 2014. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. A native of Durham, N.C., Davis is the proud mother of two children, Donovan and Kennedy.
