NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 13, 2021 — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas has announced several staff promotions, new position titles which will become effective immediately.
“I am elated to announce staff promotions,” said Thomas. “During these arduous times, the staff has gone above and beyond the call of duty to be of service to our membership and our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. I applaud each of them for the jobs that they do and for their professionalism, performance and dedication to the MEAC.”
Sonja Stills, the veteran member of Thomas’ staff, is now Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer (COO) after previously holding the title of Senior Associate Commissioner. A graduate of Old Dominion University, she is now in her 19th year on the MEAC staff. She will be second in command at the conference office and will serve in the absence of the Commissioner. Stills will oversee the MEAC ESports programming.
Raynoid Dedeaux now holds the title of Senior Associate Commissioner for Championships and Administration after previously holding the title of Assistant Commissioner for Championships. The 14-year MEAC Office employee will continue to supervise all football and men’s basketball operations as well as officiating programs for football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball. The Alcorn State University alumnus will also continue to serve as the liaison to the head coaches and athletics directors of the MEAC and he will serve as overall manager of the MEAC Basketball Tournament.
Jeff Cunningham, who joined the MEAC Office staff in 2017 as Assistant Director of Media Relations, is now the conference’s Director of Media Relations. He will continue to serve as the Media Relations Office’s primary contact for volleyball, women’s basketball, baseball, track and field, bowling and men’s and women’s tennis. The Old Dominion graduate will serve as the secondary contact person for all of the other MEAC-sponsored sports.
Wyatt Sutton, formerly the league’s Assistant Director of Compliance and Championships, has been promoted to Director of Championships and Administration. The Jackson State University graduate is in his fourth year on the MEAC Office staff. He serves as the conference liaison to the MEAC member institutions and assists the membership with eligibility matters and interpretations of NCAA and MEAC rules education and governance, as well as the coordination of MEAC championships. Sutton is also the MEAC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2020-21 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.