ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will be represented by four athletics administrators at the 61st Annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics & Affiliates Convention, June 7-10, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is devoted to examining contemporary issues facing today’s athletics administrators and is the largest gathering of intercollegiate athletics administrators in the country. The convention caters to administrators at all levels with general sessions for the entire membership and breakout sessions geared to the specific needs of administrators in different areas of the athletics department.
REGINALD RUFFIN, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director
Tuskegee University Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director
Reginald Ruffin will be recognized as a recipient of the 2025-26 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award during the 2026 convention.
Ruffin is one of 28 winners announced by the association and one of four selected from the pool of NCAA Division II candidates. He is also the only 2025-26 honoree from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award winners will be recognized at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 9, at 4 p.m. PT.
The award, now in its 28th year, recognizes athletics administrators who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service and commitment to student-athletes and their institutions. Spanning seven divisions across collegiate athletics, the honor recognizes athletics directors who inspire excellence within their departments and communities.
With more than 20 years of experience in higher education and college athletics, Ruffin has served as Tuskegee’s athletic director since Dec. 21, 2021. He stepped down from coaching following the 2022 season to focus solely on administration and joined the Tuskegee University President’s Cabinet as vice president of intercollegiate athletics and athletic director in November 2025.
Ruffin will join a distinguished group of leaders honored nationally for their impact across collegiate athletics while continuing to elevate Tuskegee’s standard of excellence.
“Receiving the NACDA Division II Athletics Director of the Year Award is truly a humbling honor,” Ruffin said. “While my name may be on the award, this recognition belongs to Tuskegee University, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, administration, Board of Trustees, alumni and supporters who believe in our vision. This recognition places Tuskegee on a national stage, highlights the incredible work being done during this Renaissance Era of Athletics and serves as a testament to the championships, academic success, citizenship and culture we have built together. Most importantly, this award is not the finish line. It is motivation to continue raising the standard. The best is yet to come for Tuskegee University Athletics.”
DR. KRISTENE KELLY, ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
Director of Athletics
Dr. Kristene Kelly has proudly served as director of athletics at
Albany State University since July 2023. A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Kelly has more than 20 years of experience in collegiate athletics across all three NCAA divisions.
Her impact is evident across all facets of ASU Athletics, from enhancing facilities and securing resources to fostering a culture of excellence, integrity and opportunity for student-athletes, coaches and staff.
With expertise in NCAA compliance, Title IX, athletics fundraising and managing budgets exceeding $2 million, Kelly has guided athletics programs to national recognition while maintaining a focus on student-athlete success.
Kelly will serve as the moderator for a powerful afternoon session hosted by the Women of Color Athletic Administrators Network. The session will feature candid conversations with women of color athletics administrators on leading through transformation, the skills, mindset and calculated risks required to build where others would not, as well as how to win in environments designed to diminish belief.
“I am honored to moderate this discussion because the stories represented on this panel reflect the experiences of many women of color in athletics,” Kelly said. “We have often been asked to lead, build and transform in environments where resources are limited and expectations are high. Throughout my career, I have learned that leadership is about having the courage to create what is possible, and I look forward to learning from these incredible women and sharing their insights with others.”
FEATURED SESSION
Built for the Build: Women of Color Leading Through Transformation
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m. PT
Location: Palm C
JOSEPH ARNOLD, CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Deputy Athletic Director for Compliance and Sports Administration
Joseph Arnold serves as deputy athletic director for compliance and sports administration at
Clark Atlanta University, where he leads compliance operations, supports departmental leadership and guides initiatives focused on daily operations and fiscal responsibility.
Nationally, Arnold serves on the NCAA Division II Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and is a graduate of the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute and the NCAA Pathway Program. He also was honored in 2025 as a NAAC Division II Excellence Award recipient and was recognized by his alma mater, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as a UAB Black Alumni Network Top 25 for 25 honoree.
Arnold will serve as a speaker for two National Association for Athletics Compliance sessions during the convention.
“Having the opportunity to speak to peers and colleagues, grounded in your own perspective and experiences, especially in this rapidly changing landscape, is always a moment for reflection,” Arnold said. “It serves as a reminder of both your impact and your purpose. Our work creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond wins and losses, influencing outcomes both on and off the field and ultimately shaping futures well beyond the playing surface.”
That great responsibility is something Arnold does not take lightly.
“I’m truly grateful to be entrusted with the opportunity to add value where I can,” Arnold said. “To represent my institution, my conference, my support system, and most importantly, those we serve, makes the experience even more meaningful. As compliance administrators, much of our work happens behind the scenes and often goes unrecognized, but being able to pour into others, share knowledge, and contribute to the growth of our industry is how I get to pay it forward.”
FEATURED SESSIONS
NAAC Session — From Chaos to Clarity: Supporting Coaches Through Transition
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. PT
Location: Mandalay Bay B
NAAC Session — Providing Student-Athlete Mental Health at Small Institutions
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 3 p.m. PT
Location: Mandalay Bay C
DESLYN HAYWOOD, ALLEN UNIVERSITY
Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator/Senior Compliance Administrator
Deslyn Haywood serves as associate athletics director, senior woman administrator and senior compliance administrator at
Allen University. Haywood will be recognized as one of two 2026 NAAC Rising Star Award winners during the convention at the National Association for Athletics Compliance Opening Ceremony and Award Recognition on Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m. PT.
The NAAC Rising Star Award has recognized young compliance professionals who are emerging leaders within the compliance profession since 2012.
With more than 15 years of experience in financial aid and higher education, Haywood is known for building a strong culture of compliance across the department. She oversees eligibility, financial aid monitoring, rules education and student-athlete welfare while advising the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and supporting multiple programs.
Haywood played a key leadership role in the university’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II and earned the institution’s prestigious Top-Hat Award.
“I am truly humbled and honored to receive the NAAC Rising Star Award,” Haywood said. “This recognition not only affirms my commitment to excellence in athletics compliance but also reflects the invaluable support of those who have guided and inspired me throughout my journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Allen University, the SIAC and to be part of a community that values accountability, education and impact. This honor further inspires me to continue striving for meaningful contributions in athletics compliance and beyond, while motivating me to grow as a leader and make a lasting impact on student-athletes and the profession.”
The SIAC recognizes the accomplishments of Ruffin, Kelly, Arnold and Haywood as they represent the conference on a national stage. Their hard work, dedication and impact underscore the conference’s continued commitment to leadership, service, compliance, governance and student-athlete advancement.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.