HAMPTON, Va. -- Hampton University's Senior Woman Administrator, Dr. Paula L Jackson was recently appointed to the NCAA Division I Council. She will immediately begin serving on the council with a term running through June 30, 2023.

"It's my pleasure to congratulate Dr. Jackson on being selected to the NCAA Division I Council," said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey.  "It shows the type of leadership we have at Hampton University to be nominated and selected to the NCAA Division I Council."

"What a great honor for Dr. Jackson to be appointed to the NCAA Division I Council," said Hampton University Provost Dr. JoAnn Haysbert.  "That is a very prestigious committee to be appointed to and I am very happy to have Hampton University represented by Dr. Jackson on the DI Council."

Dr. Jackson is in her eighth year with the Hampton University Department of Athletics, where she will serve as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Services/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

She has been a catalyst of the revitalized APR program at Hampton, implementing a program which garnered a perfect score of 1,000 for three teams which is in the top 10% in the nation as well as the highest score in the conference for the football team which garnered an award from the NCAA. Jackson has also utilized her development skills to bring in over a half million dollars for the department of athletics through the creating and implementation of a grant from the NCAA.

In addition, she is responsible for managing game day operations for all 17 sports and is an expert on Title IX, diversity and inclusion. She was a speaker at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology Regional Conference speaking on the topic of Women in Sport: Navigating Inequities Faced in a Male- Dominated Field. She was also featured by Women Leaders in Sports as a speaker on their Women of Color Chat where she spoke on her experiences as being the only woman of color in athletics administration at a previous institution. Jackson came to Hampton with extensive employment experience in athletics.

"I am humbled and honored to be chosen to represent Hampton University and the Big South Conference as a member of the NCAA Division I Council," Jackson said. "This is a unique opportunity to not only serve the membership but more specifically to enhance the student-athlete experience and impact their overall well-being and the future of collegiate athletics."

The Division I Council is a high-level group responsible for the day-to-day decision making for Division I. Athletics directors, athletics administrators, Senior Woman Administrators, faculty athletics representatives and student-athletes serve on the Council and represent each of the 32 Division I conferences.