Butzlaff, Davis and Johnson Join CIAA Staff
Charlotte, NC — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is thrilled to announce the hirings of Anna Butzlaff as the new Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications and External Partnerships, Chanel Davis as Volleyball Coordinator of Officials and Tyler Johnson as Communications Graduate Assistant.
“I am excited to have Anna join the CIAA family. Her strategic acumen and deep understanding of the collegiate sports landscape make her an excellent fit for this role. Anna’s experience will be instrumental in shaping our messaging and expanding our partnerships to better serve our member institutions and student-athletes,” said Senior Associate Commissioner for Strategic Marketing & External Operations, Tonia Walker.
Butzlaff holds a master’s degree in Sports Administration & Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Memphis. As the Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications & External Partnerships, Anna will be the lead liaison managing the public, media and community relations of the conference including branding, marketing/sponsorships, and licensing. Butzlaff will also be tasked with identifying strategic relationships with outside partners and work to deliver campaigns and initiatives that are mutually beneficial for all parties.
Butzlaff brings over a decade of combined experience in communications, marketing, and athletic administration. Her experience includes time at Florida International University and high school athletic administration roles in Florida and North Carolina.
“I’m thrilled to have Chanel join the Governance & Compliance team. Her experience and passion are unmatched,” said Senior Commissioner for Governance & Compliance, Eddie Wetherington.
Davis is a veteran official with nearly two decades of NCAA, USAV, AAU, and JVA experience. Chanel is an advisor for professional development volleyball programs and was selected for the first DEI Professional Association of Volleyball Officials camp held in 2023. She earned her MBA in Organizational leadership and her bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As the Volleyball Coordinator of Officials, Chanel will lead the organization, scheduling and implementation of volleyball officiating for the conference.
“Tyler is a great addition to the Communications team, his eagerness and excitement for collegiate athletics make him a perfect fit here at the CIAA headquarters,” said Walker.
Johnson, a graduate of Tennessee State University, joins the CIAA as a Communications Graduate Assistant. He will be tasked with various projects within each of the CIAA’s departments. With his experience in communications, multimedia, and education he is set to make an immediate impact.
About the CIAA
About the CIAA Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
