Keynote Contributers & Facilitators
MARKESHA
HENDERSON
Facilitator, Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Markesha McWilliams Henderson became the director of Athletics at Agnes Scott College in January 2020 just 2 months before all of college sports came to a hault. As one of only 30 Black female athletic directors in the NCAA, Dr. Henderson has hit the ground running at the helm of Scottie Athletics, reconfiguring several branding and recruiting efforts and leading ASC's six NCAA Division III sports teams through a double pandemic--heightened racial injustice and COVID-19.
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Prior to joining ASC, she served as Associate Professor of Business Administration and Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching, Learning and Engagement at Clark Atlanta University and was the program chair for sport management at University of West Georgia.
Before entering the academy, she acquired over 10 years of executive experience in the sports industry as a senior administrator in NCAA Division I and II conferences. She earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University, a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin. As an undergraduate, Dr. Henderson was an NCAA Division I All American track athlete and national champion.
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Dr. Henderson's scholarship includes student-athlete development and psychosocial transitions. She is the architect of the R.E.S.T. Area for Athletes Training and her vision is for it to serve as a resource for athletic departments association-wide.
SHINADE
RAMIREZ
Facilitator, Associate Director of Athletics / Senior Woman Administrator
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Shinade currently serves as the Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Agnes Scott College. A native of New Jersey, she provides support, resources, and opportunities to meet student-athletes holistic needs and fosters an inclusive and diverse student experience. She has been notably recognized for her commitment to mentorship, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of students.
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Prior to working at ASC, Shinade served as the director of communications and leadership at the YMCA in Sydney, Australia. In her leadership role, she developed and implemented organization-wide strategic communications plans and brand identities for numerous big projects to enhance meaningful relationships with targeted and high-level audiences. She also has extensive experience with creating comprehensive leadership and sports programs for children ages 5-18. Shinade oversaw all sports programming operations and increased member retention by developing initiatives to incorporate team bonding, leadership, and academic excellence.
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Shinade earned a B.A in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish from Georgian Court University. She also graduated from Georgia State University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Nonprofit Management concentration.
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A co-creator of the R.E.S.T. Area Program, her goal for the program is to provide a safe space for student-athletes to unpack and share meaningful experiences.
ERIN
MARTIN
Facilitator, Social Justice Intern
Erin is a Communications Specialist and Writer born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in Journalism from Valdosta State University. She is currently working on her Master’s of Science in Technology Leadership and Management along with a graduate certificate in Writing and Digital Communication from Agnes Scott College.
