SEC announces Assoc. Commissioner of Academic Relations

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (February 10, 2023) – Dr. LeNá Powe McDonald has been named Associate Commissioner for Academic Relations for the Southeastern Conference, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Friday.

“We are excited to have Dr. LeNá McDonald join the Southeastern Conference staff in a critical role supporting and promoting programs and activities designed to highlight the teaching, research and service achievements of students, faculty and staff at the SEC,” said Sankey. “Dr. McDonald is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to highlight the efforts and achievements of the SEC’s world-class universities.”

As Associate Commissioner for Academic Relations, Dr. McDonald will lead SEC activities aimed at highlighting the academic achievements and impact of SEC universities, including academically focused intercollegiate athletic opportunities. These activities include the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, SEC Faculty Achievement Awards, SEC Faculty Travel Program, SEC School Tour, SEC MBA Case and Student Pitch Competition, SEC Emerging Scholars Program and SEC education abroad and international efforts.

In addition, Dr. McDonald will manage the SEC’s broad academic messaging efforts, which include social and digital media strategies, paid advertising campaigns in higher education publications, and high-impact messaging opportunities, while leveraging the SEC athletics brand to highlight the academic achievements and impact of SEC universities.

He will also serve as the staff liaison to the SEC Provosts and the SEC Vice President/Chancellor for Communications.

Dr. McDonald comes to the SEC from the University of Alabama where he served as Director of Internal Affairs and UA System Liaison since 2019. He previously worked in communications for the UA Division of Advancement. He has also served as a faculty member in the UA Department of Communication Sciences. Additional previous roles include: Director of Operations, Advancement and Marketing for Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Executive Director of Workforce Development for West Alabama Works of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce as well as project manager of strategic initiatives for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Dr. McDonald earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alabama in 2007 before earning a master’s degree in Communication Studies in 2009 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education with an emphasis in Communication and Information Science in 2020.

She was a presenter at the Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium in 2018 and was named a Birmingham Trailblazer by The Birmingham News in 2015. She was also named Best Young Professional by Birmingham Magazine’s Best in Minority Business Awards in 2014 and honored in Who’s Who in Black America. in 2012.

She is a member of the Birmingham Chapter of Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. He has been active in the community and volunteers with several community boards.