Chief of Staff /Associate Athletic Director for Administration • Southern University Athletics
For Ajohnee Rodney, bringing her experience to Southern University means helping build the institution that helped build her.
A two-time Southern graduate, she serves in senior athletics leadership, overseeing operations, human resources, strategic initiatives, fundraising and partnerships.
One of her most visible achievements is the Southern University Athletics Gala. As chair, she has helped grow its revenue, sponsorship participation and visibility, bringing alumni, partners and community leaders together to support a department serving more than 300 student-athletes. The latest gala sold out, strengthening an event that has become a major fundraising initiative.
Rodney also helps lead the annual Women in Sports Luncheon and Southern Athletics Sports Summit, creating spaces for professional development, networking and mentorship. Those efforts reflect a priority: making leadership opportunities more accessible, particularly for young women entering sports and higher education.
Her community service includes planning committees for Fork Cancer and Flower Fest, carrying her ability to bring people together into causes beyond campus.
My guide to difficult decisions: “I come back to the principle of doing what is right, not simply what is easiest. I ask myself whether I can stand behind the decision, whether it aligns with my values and how it will impact the people involved.”
