The Southwestern Athletic Conference Communications department will be back at full strength after the hiring of Zena Lewis, who will join the staff on Monday, Sept. 10 as the Assistant Director of Media Relations.
Lewis comes to Birmingham after serving as a game-day media relations assistant with the Miami Dolphins during the preseason in August (2012).
From 2011-2012, he managed the external and internal communication efforts for the University of Michigan women’s basketball and water polo programs as the assistant director of public and media relations. During his stint in Michigan, Lewis also assisted the Detroit Lions communications staff as a press box assistant during home games at Ford Field.
Before moving to Michigan, Lewis served Tennessee State University from 2008-2011 as the assistant director of media relations. Under Wallace Dooley, he assisted in all facets of the media relations operations of the athletic department.
Lewis was the primary contact for the men’s basketball and both track and field programs. He was also the department’s graphic designer while managing all publications and the web content for tsutigers.com. His time at TSU included initiating the video post game press conferences and serving as the secondary contact for football.
While at TSU, he joined the game day staff of the Tennessee Titans assisting in pre- and post game duties at LP Field. All of Lewis’ stints with NFL teams included covering post game press conferences and coordinating locker room interviews.
Lewis arrived at TSU after a three-year stint at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) where he served under Sports Information Director Charles Ward. Lewis served as the primary contact person for men and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, softball, and men and women’s track and field. He also spearheaded all publication initiatives and was the assistant track and field coach.
In 2007, Lewis was hired by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as a communications intern. During his four-month appointment, he assisted in updating wbca.org, drafted press releases and wrote articles for all WBCA publications.
During the NCAA 2007 Division I Women’s Final Four, the WBCA Convention and WNBA Draft; he functioned as one of the WBCA’s media contact persons. In addition, Lewis opened the 2007 ESPN/State Farm All-American selection and Wade Trophy Presentation press conference.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Zena (Zinn-ah) is a 1999 graduate of Florida A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations.
Lewis attended FAMU on a track and field scholarship. He was a member of the 1995 and 1997 MEAC championship team and a four-year letter award recipient. He also served as a communications intern under Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations and Media Relations Alvin Hollins, Jr.
