Kentucky State University News July 31, 2018 Kentucky State University director of athletics confirmed as first female from Power Five to lead an HBCU Earlier this month, Kentucky State University officials announced the hiring of Etienne M. Thomas as the new director of athletics. After review, several sources suggest AD Thomas is the first female to leave a Power Five school to lead athletics at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU); while there may have been two males who made the leap previously. At the time of her hiring, it was believed that Thomas was possibly the first director of athletics to leave a Power Five school to lead athletics at an HBCU. Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) Commissioner Gregory Moore provided details to Kentucky State with the context that the automatic qualification of the new Power Five conferences approved by the NCAA in August 2014 did not exist at the time of those previous appointments. Commissioner Moore stated, “the terms ‘Power-Five’ and ‘autonomy-five’ are economic terms which were coined, in my judgement, after all five of these leagues entered into TV network joint ventures which dramatically changed the economic landscape and power dynamics of college sports, creating significant economic separation from the Power Five conferences and the balance of D1 leagues.” After review, Kentucky State officials say there are at least two confirmed male directors of athletics that made the leap from NCAA Division I to HBCU. However, Thomas stands unchallenged as the first female athletic administrator from a Power Five program to transition to the senior role at one of the nation’s HBCUs. “I am thankful to President Brown for the opportunity to do something I love, to impact the lives of young people, to represent Kentucky State University and the Thorobred brand and to be in a position to reach back and help other student-athletes, coaches and administrators see all of the great facets and opportunities in our industry of intercollegiate athletics for women, people of color and those who want to be part of the integration of academics and sport,” Thomas said. “AD Thomas is the first female from a Power Five program to lead an HBCU,” Kentucky State University President M. Christopher Brown II said. “We look forward to the transformation of Thorobred athletics under her direction.” SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ [http://hbculibraries.org/images/slide-collection.jpg]<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> HBCU Library Alliance<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> www.hbculibraries.org State of Libraries at HBCUs. 1942, Law School Students Checking Out Books From Lincoln’s Law Library, image courtesy of HBCU Library Alliance Digital Collection. sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. The 8th HBCU Library Alliance Membership Meeting is scheduled at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) on Sunday through Tuesday, October 7-9. Click here<http://www.hbculibraries.org/meeting-2018-info.html> for registration and session details. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance HBCU Lib. Alliance (@HBCULibAlliance) | Twitter<https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance> twitter.com The latest Tweets from HBCU Lib. Alliance (@HBCULibAlliance). The official Twitter of the HBCU Library Alliance, the consortium of White House-designated HBCUs HBCU Library Alliance - Home | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/> www.facebook.com HBCU Library Alliance, Atlanta, Georgia. 290 likes. The HBCU Library Alliance is a consortium that supports the collaboration of information... Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/