A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith

Mercedes Erhahon Vice President of Sales of the RESWealthy Team and a nationally recognized Real Estate Advisor known for guiding high-performing professionals—including athletes, entertainers, and business leaders—through strategic real estate decisions that support long-term stability, ownership, and legacy.

She is recognized as one of the top 1% of Black real estate agents in the country and serves as Director of the REALTIST Magazine for the California Association of Real Estate Brokers (CAREB), where she leads conversations with athletes, entertainers, and leaders who are using real estate to build wealth, develop communities, and create lasting impact.

She...

This episode is a replay from Season 2. Dr. Adrianne Swinney, former Athletic Administrator for UConn, now Assistant Professor at Jackson State University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Kiara Wyche is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, creative visionary, and the CEO and Founder of
Kiara Kreates—a brand built on passion, resilience, and meaningful connection. Her journey is a
testament to perseverance, having overcome personal hardships, including homelessness and
life transitions, while rising into leadership and entrepreneurship with unwavering faith and
determination.

Fueled by a deep passion for creativity and service, Kiara has transformed her natural artistic
talent into a thriving business that specializes in customized keepsakes, sports memorabilia,
and memorial pieces. Her work goes beyond products—she creates experiences that honor

Sheri Riley is a sought-after global speaker, Founder and President of Exponential Living and
serves on the Advisory Board for the Women’s Premier Basketball Association (WPBA). She is
the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award. She is
a founding member of John Maxwell’s global Maxwell Leadership Certified Team and member
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

With over three decades of experience, Sheri's clients include The Coca-Cola Company, JP
Morgan Chase, NBA, Seattle Storm, Texas A&M Women’s Basketball, and the Chicago Bears.
She is an...

Danielle N. Johnson, known as “Coach Danielle,” is a leadership strategist, author, speaker, and
former women’s basketball coach and athletic administrator with over three decades of experience in education and athletics. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, and currently based in Dallas, Texas, she has served in high-level coaching, athletic administration, and educational leadership roles.

As the founder of Coach Danielle Wins LLC, she delivers impactful coaching, training, and speaking experiences that help individuals and organizations build momentum and lead with purpose. In December 2024, she added “author” to her accomplishments with the release of Power Forward, a book that embodies he...

This episode is a replay from season 3. Alexxis Hutchinson, Owner of Simply Sporty Chic, joined Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Dr. Mercedes Himmons begins her third with the Southern Sports Medicine staff in the 2025-26 academic year. She will serve as the primary contact for gymnastics, volleyball and women's track & field. 

Prior to arriving at Southern, Dr. Mercedes was an assistant athletic trainer at California University of PA (Cal U). She provided healthcare to the women’s basketball and women’s soccer teams.  Dr. Mercedes was the athletic trainer for the 2022-23 Women’s Basketball PSAC Champion team.  Himmons earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cal U in 2010 and 2011, respectively. While at Cal U, she worked wi...

Rolynda Contee is a pillar of the Baltimore sports community, a Hall of Fame athlete, and a trailblazing administrator. Her commitment to the youth of Baltimore began in 2002, when she started her tenure as a Physical Education teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS). For over two decades, she has been a consistent force in the lives of thousands of students, fostering a culture of health and discipline.

A firm believer in professional growth, Contee earned the prestigious Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) national credential in 2023. She further solidified her expertise by completing her Master’s degree in Sports Ad...

Tabitha Monroe joined Claflin University in February 2026 as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics, bringing extensive experience in athletic administration, compliance, and operational leadership. She plays a key role in advancing Claflin’s athletics programs while supporting institutional compliance and the holistic development of student-athletes.

Monroe most recently served as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Shaw University, where she was a member of the department’s senior leadership team. In this role, she provided strategic oversight of NCAA compliance, supported departmental governance, and led initiatives focused on student-athlete welfare across all sports.

This episode is a replay from Season 1. At the time of this interview, Danielle was Associate Commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She is currently Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Born and raised in Jackson, MS, Sonja Stamps' passion for sports ignited at the tender age of five, influenced by her close bond with her father and a few years later, for her admiration for pioneering sports broadcaster Jayne Kennedy. As a self-proclaimed "daddy's girl," Sonja was inspired by Jayne's groundbreaking achievements as one of the first female sports broadcasters and the first African American woman in that role.

This inspiration led Sonja to pursue her Masters in Sports Administration, from Belhaven University. Sonja was a part of Belhaven’s Sports Administration charter class (Class of 2014) and from th...

Courtney Washington was named Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at Chicago State University on November 1, 2024.

She comes to Chicago State after serving as the Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at Shaw University where she oversaw compliance operations, guiding coaches and staff in navigating NCAA, CIAA, and institutional regulations. She is an experienced athletic compliance professional with a comprehensive background in NCAA rules, eligibility certification, and student-athlete support with previous stops at Texas A&M Commerce, Alcorn State, Memphis, Delta State and Auburn University at Montgomery.

Washington plays a crucial role in coordinating...

Dr. Fachaitte (fuh-shay) Kinslow is a senior athletics administrator, compliance leader, and
former counselor with more than two decades of experience advancing equity, academic success,
and holistic development for student-athletes. Raised on a multigenerational farm in Dover,
Oklahoma, she brings a values-driven, service-oriented leadership approach shaped by family
legacy, education, and faith.

Dr. Kinslow currently serves as Associate Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Leader, and
Compliance Administrator at Texas A&M University–Texarkana. In this role, she oversees
athletics compliance and governance, conducts rules education for coaches and staff, coordinates
required de...

Dr. Tara M. Collins is a Retired United States Navy Chief Petty Officer. She has over 20 years’
experience in the sports industry. Her experience began as a command football & basketball
coach, then evolved into becoming an agent advisor. Dr. Collins’s educational background
includes an earned PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management
and Leadership (Northcentral University). She researched and defended her dissertation titled
“Understanding the Psychological Journeys of African-American Football Players from High
School to the NFL and the Player-Agent Relationship”. In addition, she has a Master of Science
in Sport...

This episode is a replay from Season 8. Sonja Stills, MEAC Commissioner, joined Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

This episode is a replay from Season 8. Sonja Stills, MEAC Commissioner, joined Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

This episode is a replay from Season 7. Kimberly Davis, National Hockey League Executive, joined Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Alfreda Hagans-Sanchez is the Assistant Director of Compliance at Duke University. She recently joined the Blue Devil family in December of 2023. Prior to Duke, Alfreda had stops at SFA as the Director of Compliance & Risk Mitigation, The University of North Carolina Greensboro, Virginia Commonwealth University and Longwood University.

Alfreda has spent over a decade in Division I college athletics as a former multi-sport Track and Field and Cross-Country athlete, NCAA Compliance Administrator and Track and Field and Cross-Country coach. She graduated from Campbell University with a degree in Business Administration in Accounting and later graduated from Virginia Commonwealth...

Ruby A. Jackson is a scientist and a creative.  A native of Chester, Pennsylvania, Ruby is a former track and field athlete, coach, and Seton Hall University graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry. Ruby holds coaching certifications as a USATF Level 2 Coach and a USAW Level 1 Coach.  She has traveled to India to coach track and field, providing Long Term Athletic Development Plans for athletes.  One of the athletes Coach Ruby worked with went on to represent her country in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.  Ruby resides in North Carolina, and has shifted from coaching to media.  She is the fou...

Dr. Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Cincinnati where she is also an affiliate of the Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender, Sexuality Studies programs. Dr. Brown is a Black feminist, interdisciplinary scholar who researches the lived realities of Blackgirlwomen in sport, media, education, and girlhood.

Dr. Brown’s academic scholarship can be found in outlets including the Sociology of Sport Journal, Communication & Sport, Girlhood Studies, and Race & Social Problems. Her first book, Say Her Name; Centering Black Feminism and Black Women in Sport (March 2025...

This episode is a replay from Season 10. Natalie Graves, Founder NAT Sports Directory & Natalie Graves Athletic Counseling LLC and Author, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

In honor of Martina's retirement, this episode is a replay from Season 6. Martina Ballen, Senior Associate AD for Human Resources & CFO at UNC Chapel Hill, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.ex...

Zara Northover is an 2008 Jamaican Olympian in the shot put, speaker, and founder of Moving in Faith, a global empowerment brand that inspires people to persevere with courage, identity, and bold purpose. From class president and team captain to Olympian, corporate athlete, and now servant leader and advocate, Zara’s life has been defined by faith, resilience, and an unwavering belief in God’s timing.

She has fearlessly stood up to race discrimination and retaliation in the workplace, representing herself Pro Se and currently awaiting a decision from the Michigan Supreme Court. Her powerful journey is captured in her...

As the founder and owner of BallHers Choice Sports, Maria LaChelle Barber is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment through sports. With a vision to create a platform that celebrates female athletes and provides opportunities for growth, Barber has established herself as a trailblazer in her community.

In 2023, Barber turned her vision into reality by founding BallHers Choice Sports Initiative, LLC. The organization aims to provide a platform for female athletes to thrive, connect with resources, and access opportunities for growth. Through BallHers Choice, Barber has created a community that fosters empowerment, confidence, and leadership among women and...

Lachauna Edwards is a sports and business attorney with over twelve years of experience spanning education law, business, and intellectual property. As the co-founder of Black Sports Moms, she leads a national movement dedicated to educating and empowering mothers of athletes to navigate the business of NIL and sports. Through dynamic workshops, conferences, and partnerships, she’s helping families transform their knowledge into power, bridging the gap between athletic talent and long-term legacy.

A proud HBCU graduate, Lachauna earned her B.A. from Clark Atlanta University and her J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She is a...

Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) appointed Jacqueline “Jackie” Gordon Duvall as its new Director of Athletics, effective August 18, 2025. An experienced leader in athletic administration, she provides leadership and general oversight of the district’s athletic programs and activities.

Mrs. Gordon Duvall holds a Master of Science in Child and Family Studies and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Western Kentucky University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Informational Studies from the University of Kentucky.

Her recent professional roles include Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Kentucky State University (KSU) and Dire...

This episode is a replay from Season 8. Zee Butler, Author, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Candace Smith is in her first year at Ohio University and 18 th year overall in collegiate athletics. Smith joined the Ohio Bobcats in March 2025 as the Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer and serves as a member of the athletics executive leadership team, advising the Athletic Director of strategic priorities and departmental direction. Her professional oversight includes Business Operations, Human resources, Compliance and Video Broadcasting while having sport oversight of Women’s Basketball.

At Akron, Smith played an instrumental role in advancing the athletic department in various capacities during her time on staff. Most recently serving as the...

From the track to the clinic, Dr. Wilsa Charles Malveaux understands peak performance inside and
out. A former elite Track & Field athlete and Stanford record-holder, she trained for the Summer
Olympics before turning her focus to the mental side of the game.

Dr. Charles Malveaux earned her BA and MA in Psychology from Stanford University and her Medical Degree from Howard University. She completed her psychiatry residency at UCLA, where she was Chief Resident and received the prestigious SAMHSA Fellowship from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). With accolades including UCLA’s Outstanding Teaching Award, she has dedica...

Dr. Darlene Moore joined KWC Panthers as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, Student Athletic Services and Sports Administration/ SWA in July 2025. Most recently, Dr. Moore served as the Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Academic Services at Texas Woman’s University. While at TWU, Dr. Moore oversaw the compliance program which services over 200 student-athletes on a yearly basis. This position was responsible for the submission of all NCAA reports on
an annual basis. Dr. Moore oversaw a comprehensive athletics academic program for 9 intercollegiate athletic sports (advising, transfer evaluation, tutoring referrals, early academic alerts and monitoring for student-athletes) resulting in an at...

Dr. Kyla Formey is a native of Brooklyn, New York and she graduated from Long Island University
in 2019, where she was a four-year Division II women’s basketball player. Following graduation,
Dr. Formey relocated to Virginia to continue her educational pursuits by obtaining her Doctorate
in Physical Therapy from Hampton University in 2023 and Master of Science in Athletic Training
from Old Dominion University in 2025.

Dr. Formey embraces every chance to grow and improve by actively seeking opportunities to advance her knowledge. She obtained additional certifications which include her Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Health Leve...

Chamreece Diggs is a proud graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Administration and later earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Chamreece, a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, is experienced in programming, marketing, project management, facility management, staff development, public speaking, special events and advocacy.

Chamreece has served on the Board of Directors and in various other roles for North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association over the last 13 years. Chamreece the Special Programs Superintendent with the City of Greensboro Park...

Andrea Durham is the CEO and Founder of Minority Women in Sports, a 501(c)(3) charitable
foundation dedicated to supporting and advancing the educational and professional goals of
minority women pursuing careers in the sports industry. Founded in 2020, the foundation has
launched various programs aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by minority
women in sports. Through strategic partnerships, the foundation connects aspiring
professionals with industry leaders, offering career guidance, networking opportunities, and
skills development. As the only organization of its kind, MWIS is shaping the future of diversity
in sports by ensuring minority...

Dr. Danielle Lynch assumed the role of Director of Athletics at Haverford College in March of 2022. Lynch brings more than 20 years of experience in college coaching and athletics administration to Haverford and is a respected professional within the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Lynch joined the staff at Haverford from Susquehanna University, where she served as Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance. In this role, she was the primary NCAA compliance officer for 22 varsity sports teams as well as the athletics designee for inclusion and diversity (ADID) and the university's deputy Title IX coordinator. She is also a...

CC Clark is a financial literacy educator, speaker, and founder of The Prosperity League, where the mission is simple: Play. Brand. Profit. With over 17 years of experience teaching business, marketing, and entrepreneurship, CC has impacted thousands of students inside the classroom and beyond. A former Division I basketball player at Samford University, she knows firsthand the challenges of being a student-athlete with little financial knowledge. That experience drives her passion for teaching young people how to manage money, build businesses, and leverage opportunities like NIL to create long-term success.

CC blends her background as a teacher, coach, and...

This episode is a replay from Season 7. Dr. Jessica R. Murfree, Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 12. Seasons 1- 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.

In May 2025, Patrick Mashuda, Associate Vice President for Athletics and Compliance, announced the appointment of Sherry Lewis as the new head coach of the Chowan University women's flag football team. Lewis will lead the Hawks in the launch of the university's inaugural women's flag football program, set to begin competition in the Spring of 2026.She will also serve as the Head Coach for Men's and Women's Cross Country. 

An alumna of Chowan University, Lewis returns to campus with a background in athletics, recreation, and leadership. She began her academic journey at Richard Bland College, where she earned an A...

Born and raised in North Babylon, New York, my early life was defined by a strong sense of community, hard work, and purpose. These values not only influenced her path in athletics and fitness but also became the foundation for a dynamic and evolving career in higher education, particularly within the realm of collegiate athletics. 

After high school I enrolled at Temple University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science in 2009. While at Temple, I viewed kinesiology not just as a field of study but as a toolkit for helping athletes fine-tune their p...

Terica "Teri" Peay is an emerging leader in collegiate athletics with a strong background in strategic communications, media relations, and athletic administration. With over a decade of experience across NCAA institutions, she has established herself as a results-driven professional committed to promoting student-athletes, elevating athletic brands, and fostering inclusive excellence in sports.

Currently serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications at Albany State University, she leads the department’s media and public relations efforts, oversees game-day operations, and manages digital engagement across platforms. She acts as the main media liaison for all Golden Rams sports, ensuring the v...

Tayllor Washington has a passion for education and sport, helping students in and out of the classroom and helping athletes on and off the field. As an Education Assistant with 49ers EDU, Tayllor assists with the planning, coordination, and execution of the 49ers EDU Home and Away program. She also has launched two brand new programs under the 49ers Foundation: Tackling Literacy and Next Up: Girls in Flag Football and STEAM.

Tayllor has a strong background in athletics and academics previously working in the community impact department with the Giants, working with the University of San Francisco Men’s...