GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State University Athletics Director Paul Bryant added another important piece to his staff in his on-going effort to improve the GSU athletics program.
Bryant has hired Gramblinite Tiffani-Dawn Sykes as the assistant athletics director for compliance, effective Monday (April 10).
“I am so happy to have Ms. Sykes as a part of the University’s team,” said Bryant. “Her knowledge and experience in college athletics, particularly in compliance, will allow us to operate within the guidelines of the conference and NCAA. She will be committed to ensuring that the university and athletics staff are compliant in our approach to educating our student-athletes. We are very fortunate to have her at the helm of our compliance department.”
“I am very excited to return to Grambling State University, a place that is very special to me,” said Sykes. “As an alumna of GSU, I know how much our athletic program means to the Grambling community. I look forward to serving Grambling State University, its student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff for many years.”
Sykes returns to her alma mater after four years as the NCAA Eligibility Specialist for the Norfolk State University athletics department, where she was responsible for evaluating degree audits and other academic records in an effort to ensure conformity with NCAA initial, transfer and continuing eligibility regulations. She also assisted with Academic Performance Program (APP), Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and other NCAA academic reports.
Prior to NSU, Sykes spent three years as the director of NCAA compliance at Chowan University from 2010-13. There, she was in charge of certifying all student-athletes for NCAA eligibility while coordinating the NLI and scholarship processes for the athletics department. Additionally, she was a member of the department’s senior staff and the sport supervisor for bowling.
Sykes also has extensive sports information experience, having previously served as the sports information director at St. Paul’s College (2002-06) and Virginia Union (2006-09). In 2009, Sykes served as the interim assistant sports information director at GSU and as the sport management specialist at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 2010.
Sykes graduated cum laude with a bachelors of science degree from Virginia State in 2001, where she lettered in volleyball and track and field. She currently serves as the National Vice President of the VSU Alumni Association.
The Portsmouth, Va. native earned her masters from Grambling State in 2010, where she graduated summa cum laude. Sykes completed the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females in 2007 and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Women Leaders in College Sports, formerly NACWAA.
Courtesy: GSU Athletics
