CLEVELAND - The Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) is proud to announce Winston-Salem State University Director of Athletics, Etienne Thomas as the 2025 MOAA Charles Whitcomb Service Award recipient. 

The MOAA Charles Whitcomb Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who foster diversity and inclusion within the intercollegiate athletics community. The recipient of this award will be announced and recognized at the MOAA Symposium each year.

Thomas came to Winston-Salem State University in 2020 as the director of athletics after serving at Kentucky State University as the director of athletics by way of the The University of Kansas, North Carolina Central University and San Jose State University. So far under her leadership, the Rams have captured CIAA Championships in men's basketball (2020), (2022), women's outdoor track and field (2022) the Inaugural CIAA Women's Flag Football Championship (2025) and finishing the spring with the 2025 CIAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship (2025).

One of Thomas' most significant contributions is her partnership with Council Member Annette Scipio in advocating for the naming of the football field at Bowman Gray Stadium, home of the WSSU Rams, in honor of William "Bill" Hayes, legendary Hall of Fame football coach and Athletics Administrator. This decision, brought forward with a formal recommendation to City Council, serves as a lasting tribute to Hayes' legacy and contributions. By advocating for this memorial, Thomas has not only celebrated a key figure in the community but has also created a space that inspires current and future generations of students and athletes. This initiative ensured that the field will be a place where history is acknowledged and celebrated, fostering a sense of pride and inclusivity for everyone who steps onto it.

Thomas' influence extends to her service as a board member of the Kernersville YMCA. By being part of the YMCA Board, Etienne plays an active role in guiding an organization that provides critical resources to a diverse range of individuals and families, demonstrating their capacity for bringing diverse perspectives into leadership and decision-making processes. Thomas was also selected to serve as a member of the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team selection committee, chair of the CIAA Management Council and the chair of the CIAA Basketball Tournament committee.

Through innovative programs, partnerships, and community initiatives, Thomas has fostered a culture of inclusion that actively involves individuals from various backgrounds and experiences.

Thomas will be recognized at the 2025 MOAA Symposium on Sunday, June 8 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.  

About the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association: Administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association promotes equitable employment opportunities for minorities in the athletics industry through the exchange of ideas, the creation of networking opportunities and the avocation of an increase in employment for minorities in athletics administration positions at all levels of the sports industry. The association also promotes cultivating a sports environment that supports the values necessary to accept aspiring professionals from all walks of life. For more information on the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, please visit www.moaaweb.com.