Colorado University Athletics
Women's History Month: Alexis Williams Excelling And Inspiring In Colorado Athletics
March 22, 2021 | General
BOULDER- Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations Alexis Williams is a key piece to the puzzle of Colorado Athletics and is paving a path for women in collegiate sports every step of the way.
Williams got her first taste of college athletics when she was a student manager for the Louisiana State University women's basketball team. After graduating from LSU with a Bachelor's in mathematics, Williams was exploring graduate school options and chose to stay in Baton Rouge for LSU's Master's in sports management. Post graduate school, the Houston-native returned home to intern in Rice University's athletic department. This internship solidified Williams' decision to go full steam into a career in college sports.
"I never had any hesitation of joining a male dominated industry," said Williams on starting her career surrounded by majority men. "My mom worked in the oil and gas industry where she was the only female or the first female to attain certain achievements. She instilled in my brother and me to never let anyone discourage us or tell us what we could or could not become."
College athletics was a male dominated industry at the time of Williams' decision to enter the field, but this was no deterrent. Growing up with a mother who taught to always believe in yourself, Williams was unfazed by the demographics of the industry.
Williams stayed at Rice until 2007 and at that point had moved up the ranks to the role of assistant athletic director for ticket operations. Her next step followed her experience in ticket management, but away from the realm of college sports. Williams took a job as manager of ticketing and customer service at Theatre Under The Stars in Houston where she worked for over seven years.
Her next job brought her back into college sports and away from Houston to Boulder where she became the associate athletic director for ticket operations, sales and services in 2015. After another stop back home to the University of Houston's athletic department as associate athletic director for ticket sales and operations, she returned back to Boulder in August of 2020 where she now works as senior associate athletic director for external operations. She oversees marketing, promotions, ticket operations and BuffVision and is a member of Rick George's executive team, as well as serving as the sport supervisor for women's tennis.
Another key aspect of Williams' role is serving as the department's diversity and inclusion officer. In her first stop in Boulder she was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Council and took that experience to form the same council at Houston. It is a role Williams does not take lightly and is a torch she wants to carry for Colorado.
"Inclusion to me means all are included, with no separation," said Williams. "It is an honor leading the department's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. I believe one of the most important aspects for our student-athletes and staff is to feel included, not simply through talk or sentiment but through action."
Williams is motivated in her efforts by Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks.
Marshall says, "Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance."
"I'd like to ensure everyone is given an opportunity to show off their dance moves," said Williams.
Williams has earned everything she has gotten in her career and has blazed trails in doing so. She has worked her way through a male dominated industry to become one of two females overseeing external operations in the Pac-12. It is a number that Williams wants to see grow and is proud she can be the inspiration to help do so.
"I take pride in my job and don't take for granted the opportunity I have to be an inspiration," said Williams on what she has accomplished as a female in the industry. "Being a Black female overseeing external operations is an honor and something I have worked hard to achieve. It is important for young women to see someone that looks like them in more executive positions in college athletics."
Williams had people along the way mentor and show her all she is capable of becoming. Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Gunter was the head coach at LSU's women's basketball team when a college-aged Williams worked on staff. Gunter empowered Williams and those around her and showed the importance of treating people with kindness in whatever you are doing. Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Senior Women's Administrator at the University of Houston DeJuena Chizer was another source of inspiration for Williams as she was able to work beside another Black female excelling in her executive position in a college athletic department.
Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and Buffs legend Ceal Barry was another key person along the way that showed Williams all she can accomplish if she continued on her way. Barry encouraged Williams to use her voice and challenged her to grow and learn as much as possible about the industry.
Williams is now inspiring people herself with what she has accomplished in her field and will continue to do so throughout her career. She has worked and earned all she has for herself in an industry that did not have the proper representation of women when she began. There is still a lot of room to grow to get proper representation, but because of people like Williams, it is headed in the right direction.
"The sports industry has historically been male dominated in front offices and college athletic department staff," said Williams on the industry she works in. "Recently, we have seen many firsts for women in executive roles and coaching positions in MLB, NBA and NFL. Those women didn't have anyone in those roles to look up to. Now, they are an inspiration to many young girls and other women in the sports industry. It is so important for the world to recognize the talent and knowledge that women have in sports."
Williams got her first taste of college athletics when she was a student manager for the Louisiana State University women's basketball team. After graduating from LSU with a Bachelor's in mathematics, Williams was exploring graduate school options and chose to stay in Baton Rouge for LSU's Master's in sports management. Post graduate school, the Houston-native returned home to intern in Rice University's athletic department. This internship solidified Williams' decision to go full steam into a career in college sports.
"I never had any hesitation of joining a male dominated industry," said Williams on starting her career surrounded by majority men. "My mom worked in the oil and gas industry where she was the only female or the first female to attain certain achievements. She instilled in my brother and me to never let anyone discourage us or tell us what we could or could not become."
College athletics was a male dominated industry at the time of Williams' decision to enter the field, but this was no deterrent. Growing up with a mother who taught to always believe in yourself, Williams was unfazed by the demographics of the industry.
Williams stayed at Rice until 2007 and at that point had moved up the ranks to the role of assistant athletic director for ticket operations. Her next step followed her experience in ticket management, but away from the realm of college sports. Williams took a job as manager of ticketing and customer service at Theatre Under The Stars in Houston where she worked for over seven years.
Her next job brought her back into college sports and away from Houston to Boulder where she became the associate athletic director for ticket operations, sales and services in 2015. After another stop back home to the University of Houston's athletic department as associate athletic director for ticket sales and operations, she returned back to Boulder in August of 2020 where she now works as senior associate athletic director for external operations. She oversees marketing, promotions, ticket operations and BuffVision and is a member of Rick George's executive team, as well as serving as the sport supervisor for women's tennis.
Another key aspect of Williams' role is serving as the department's diversity and inclusion officer. In her first stop in Boulder she was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Council and took that experience to form the same council at Houston. It is a role Williams does not take lightly and is a torch she wants to carry for Colorado.
"Inclusion to me means all are included, with no separation," said Williams. "It is an honor leading the department's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. I believe one of the most important aspects for our student-athletes and staff is to feel included, not simply through talk or sentiment but through action."
Williams is motivated in her efforts by Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks.
Marshall says, "Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance."
"I'd like to ensure everyone is given an opportunity to show off their dance moves," said Williams.
Williams has earned everything she has gotten in her career and has blazed trails in doing so. She has worked her way through a male dominated industry to become one of two females overseeing external operations in the Pac-12. It is a number that Williams wants to see grow and is proud she can be the inspiration to help do so.
"I take pride in my job and don't take for granted the opportunity I have to be an inspiration," said Williams on what she has accomplished as a female in the industry. "Being a Black female overseeing external operations is an honor and something I have worked hard to achieve. It is important for young women to see someone that looks like them in more executive positions in college athletics."
Williams had people along the way mentor and show her all she is capable of becoming. Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Gunter was the head coach at LSU's women's basketball team when a college-aged Williams worked on staff. Gunter empowered Williams and those around her and showed the importance of treating people with kindness in whatever you are doing. Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Senior Women's Administrator at the University of Houston DeJuena Chizer was another source of inspiration for Williams as she was able to work beside another Black female excelling in her executive position in a college athletic department.
Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and Buffs legend Ceal Barry was another key person along the way that showed Williams all she can accomplish if she continued on her way. Barry encouraged Williams to use her voice and challenged her to grow and learn as much as possible about the industry.
Williams is now inspiring people herself with what she has accomplished in her field and will continue to do so throughout her career. She has worked and earned all she has for herself in an industry that did not have the proper representation of women when she began. There is still a lot of room to grow to get proper representation, but because of people like Williams, it is headed in the right direction.
"The sports industry has historically been male dominated in front offices and college athletic department staff," said Williams on the industry she works in. "Recently, we have seen many firsts for women in executive roles and coaching positions in MLB, NBA and NFL. Those women didn't have anyone in those roles to look up to. Now, they are an inspiration to many young girls and other women in the sports industry. It is so important for the world to recognize the talent and knowledge that women have in sports."
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