Announcing Our New Executive Director: Nnenna O. Akotaobi, Ed.M.
Philadelphia, PA — Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF) is proud to announce the selection of Nnenna O. Akotaobi, Ed.M., as the new acting executive director. She officially began her new role in March, 2020. The selection was made after an extensive search process.
“I am very excited about working with Ms. Akotaobi. She brings passion and educational theory as well as contemporary effective experience and practice that will enhance the mission of Black Women in Sport Foundation,” said BWSF President and co-founder, Tina Sloan Green.
Green continued, “She embodies the mission and champions the vision of Black Women in Sport Foundation. Nnenna is a game changer. Her professional and personal achievements manifest an inspirational, motivated leader dedicated to transforming the principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness into practice.”
"I'd like to thank the BWSF Board, particularly [selection committee chair] Traci Green and Tina Sloan Green, for this tremendous opportunity,” said Akotaobi. “I am eager to work with our many partners on behalf of black girls and women in the Philadelphia area and beyond. This organization has a tremendous legacy, and I look forward to building on the great foundation that has been developed over the past 28 years."
Nnenna joined BWSF from 122 Consulting Group, LLC, where she is the founder and principal. Prior to founding her own consulting firm, she served as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA)/Title IX Deputy Coordinator at Swarthmore College for eight years. Akotaobi has also served in leadership roles at Grinnell College and the Midwest Conference.
Photo Credit: Brandon Hodnett, Musement Creative
Nationally, Akotaobi has been appointed to several National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) committees, including NCAA Division III Management Council (2014-18) and chairing the NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee on Legislative Relief during her tenure. Akotaobi also chaired the NCAA Minority Opportunity & Interests Committee (MOIC) from 2016-18 and served on that committee for six years. Her national leadership on diversity and inclusion issues in higher education led to her appointment to the NCAA Board of Governors Ad Hoc Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity in 2016. Locally, Akotaobi is active in the Philadelphia-area, and was appointed to the DiverseForce on Boards nonprofit board training program at the University of Pennsylvania in fall of 2019, and the Diverse Venture Leaders 2020 cohort.
Akotaobi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign program for Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership. She is a certified leadership development facilitator and diversity trainer, and serves as a freelance consultant and management coach. Akotaobi is native of Thornton, Colorado, and played Division I basketball at Denver.
Our community will join in celebration of Nnenna’s leadership and tenure at a future date and time to be announced.
Established in 1992, the Black Women in Sport Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase the involvement of black women and girls in all aspects of sport, including athletics, coaching and administration. For more information, visit www.blackwomeninsport.org.