Traci Green, M.Ed., President

Traci Green is the Sheila Kelly Palandjian Endowed Head Coach of Harvard Women’s Tennis; now in her 18th season leading the Crimson. Green is a 2022 Ragatz Family Coach of Excellence honoree. She is the First African-American coach at Harvard to win an Ivy League title; most recent championship in 2025.

Green is a Former Temple University Head Coach, where she guided the program to its first national ranking. She was an NCAA Champion as a collegiate player at the University of Florida. She was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame and the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame.

Green serves on the USTA Collegiate Pathway Committee and contributes to outreach, advisory, and consulting initiatives in the sport and wellness space.

Alpha Alexander, Ph.D., Vice President

Dr. Alpha Alexander is a nationally recognized sports educator, advocate, and mentor whose career has centered on advancing opportunities for women and underrepresented communities in athletics. She co-founded the Black Women in Sport Foundation, helping thousands of girls gain access to sports such as fencing, field hockey, lacrosse, and tennis.

Through leadership roles with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Women’s Sports Foundation, the YWCA, and multiple community organizations, Dr. Alexander has promoted diversity, mentorship, and equity in sports on both national and grassroots levels. Her initiatives — including the Race Against Racism and numerous youth development programs — continue to inspire new generations of athletes and leaders.

Her impact has been recognized with many honors, including the Billie Jean King Contribution Award, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Olympic Shield Award, the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, the Institute for Sport and Social Justice’s Power of Sport Award (2023), and induction into the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame in 2025, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in sports and social justice.

Shannon George, B.A., Treasurer

Shannon George is a community advocate who has been active in community building and uplifting for over 20 years. She successfully spearheads campaigns that fund scholarships, supports international educational programs, and uplifts underserved communities. She currently provides ongoing support to an international school in Jamaica, ensuring that young learners have the resources they need to thrive.

As part of her work in the community, she is a part of influential women-led organizations: George is the Chair of International Trends and Services for The Links Incorporated, where she leads global initiatives promoting education, cultural exchange, and social impact; She is Lead of the Stewardship Committee for Girlfriends, Inc., fostering member engagement and philanthropic giving.

Jacqueline McDowell, Ph.D., Secretary

Dr. Jacqueline McDowell is a lifelong educator with over 20 years of experience. She works at George Mason University as an Associate Professor of Sports Management and as an Academic Program Coordinator for the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program. McDowell’s research focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion in sport and recreation organizations, with a particular emphasis on investigating and developing strategies and programs that can be implemented to remove barriers to participation.