CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams and student-athlete Elijah Gaines (football) were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference today (Oct. 16) as recipients of the 2024 ACC UNITE Award.
The award was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league who promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy. Those selected have helped create meaningful, lasting change by improving systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes or have been pioneers and/or helped pave the way for minorities either at the institution or in the community.
The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC’s Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE – Champions of Racial Equity). Each school selects its two recipients based on the above criteria and can choose to celebrate their selections at campus events throughout the academic year.
“We are incredibly honored to recognize the fourth annual UNITE Award recipients and are thrilled to celebrate these deserving individuals,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “These amazing representatives from our 18-member schools have made significant impacts throughout their careers and continue to be dedicated to making a positive impact in the crucial areas of racial and social justice, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Williams was named Virginia’s Director of Athletics in October of 2017, making her the first African-American woman athletics director at a Power Five conference institution. Under Williams’ leadership, UVA has won nine NCAA team championships, 19 ACC team titles, and posted consecutive top-5 finishes in the most recent Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, which annually measure the overall success of university athletic programs nationwide.
Nearing its final stage of completion, Williams continues to oversee the development of UVA athletics’ Master Plan, which is highlighted by the completed 90,000-square foot Molly and Robert Hardie Football Operations Center, and the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center, which is set to open in the summer of 2025. The Harrison Center will accommodate a substantial number of UVA Olympic sport programs and feature a performance training center, strength & conditioning facilities, tutoring and academic support spaces and hall of champions.
In conjunction with Williams’ emphasis on the holistic…