Sonja O. Stills has been a transformative leader within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for more than two decades and, on January 1, 2022, made history as the first female Commissioner in the conference’s history and the first woman to lead a Division I HBCU conference. Her tenure has been defined by a clear focus on institutional stability, brand elevation, student-athlete opportunity, and long-term sustainability for the MEAC and its member institutions.
In recognition of her visionary leadership and tangible impact across collegiate athletics, Stills was named the Women Leaders in Sports 2025 Nike Executive of the Year, an honor that underscores her influence not only within the MEAC, but across the broader intercollegiate sports landscape. Under her leadership, the MEAC has sharpened its strategic identity, expanded its national visibility, and strengthened its operational foundation in an era of rapid change across college athletics.
As Commissioner, Stills has prioritized strategic planning, revenue diversification, and brand development. She led the update and implementation of the MEAC Strategic and Long-Range Plan, aligning the conference around clear performance benchmarks in governance, championships, academics, and external partnerships. She has overseen major conference-wide initiatives, including mental health and student-athlete wellness programming, the We Are MEAC diversity and inclusion initiative, and comprehensive compliance and governance operations, while modernizing internal processes and strengthening financial stewardship to ensure the conference remains competitive and resilient in a shifting Division I landscape.
At the national level, Stills is an active leader within the HBC4U Alliance, collaborating with peer conferences and stakeholders to advance a unified agenda for Historically Black Colleges and Universities in intercollegiate athletics. Through this work, she has been directly involved in coordinated advocacy and lobbying efforts on behalf of HBCUs, particularly on critical issues such as student-athlete employment, NIL-related policy frameworks, and federal and state legislative proposals impacting college athletics. Her voice has helped elevate the unique needs and perspectives of HBCU institutions in conversations with policymakers, national associations, and industry partners, ensuring that limited-resource institutions are meaningfully represented in shaping the future of the collegiate sports enterprise.
A signature achievement of her leadership has been the continued elevation of the MEAC’s brand and event portfolio. Stills oversaw the renewal and expansion of the MEAC Basketball Tournament agreement with the City of Norfolk, reinforcing the championship’s role as both a premier sporting event and an economic and cultural anchor for the region. She has also guided the conference’s rebranding and marketing strategy, including the partnership with global creative agency 160over90, and led the continued development and expansion of the MEAC Digital Network, strengthening the conference’s multimedia infrastructure, storytelling capacity, and national visibility while positioning the MEAC for stronger corporate engagement and long-term digital growth.
Innovation has been a hallmark of her career. Stills launched the MEAC Esports program, establishing governance standards, partnerships, and engagement strategies that positioned the conference as a leader among HBCU and Division I peers in this emerging space. The initiative expanded competitive and career pathways for students while signaling the MEAC’s commitment to future-facing sports and technology opportunities.
Stills is widely respected for her results-driven, collaborative leadership style and her unwavering commitment to student-athlete success. She has overseen the NCAA Academic Performance Program at the conference level and led the establishment and growth of the MEAC Foundation, strengthening the conference’s capacity to support scholarships, championships, and long-term institutional priorities. Her leadership has consistently emphasized accountability, transparency, and strategic investment in both people and programs.
Before her appointment as Commissioner, Stills served the MEAC in several senior leadership roles, most recently as Chief of Staff/Chief Operating Officer, where she led initiatives in hiring, strategic planning, branding, budgeting, and event operations. Across her career within the conference, she has been instrumental in expanding the MEAC’s corporate partnership portfolio, cultivating relationships with organizations such as Wells Fargo, Nike, Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, iHeartRadio, TowneBank, and others driving both revenue growth and brand visibility for the conference and its institutions.
A long-standing advocate for leadership development and inclusion, Stills has been a champion for women in athletics through the oversight and leadership of the Women in Athletics Professional Development Workshops and the Women’s Flag Football Clinics, two conference-wide initiatives designed to cultivate leadership pipelines, expand access to sport and executive development opportunities, and prepare the next generation of administrators, coaches, and student-athletes. Through this work, she has helped institutionalize professional growth and participation pathways across the conference while also overseeing recognition programs such as the MEAC Woman of the Year, reinforcing the MEAC’s commitment to talent development, equity, and long-term leadership sustainability.
Prior to joining the MEAC, Stills served at Hampton University, where she was the Coordinator of Athletic Academic Support and Senior Woman Administrator and also served as Assistant Dean of Women before transitioning into athletics administration. At Hampton, she established the institution’s first Athletic Academic Support Program and implemented the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, laying an early foundation for her career-long focus on holistic student-athlete development and student success.
Education
Stills holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts in Counseling (College Student Work Personnel) from Hampton University. She is a graduate of the Sports Management Institute and the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement.
Professional Affiliations
Stills holds memberships in the College Commissioners Association (CCA), National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Women Leaders in College Sports (WLS), HBC4U Alliance and DST Monarchs. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
She previously served on the NCAA Legislative Council (2008–11), Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Policy Committee (2008–20), and Touraine Condominium Association Board (1997–2020).