A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith

University of Southern Mississippi hired Sonya Varnell as the Associate Athletics Director for Olympic Sports and SWA in 1999. At that time, she was sport administrator for 15 teams and oversaw strength and conditioning, academics, letter awards, and annual performance evaluations.

Since 2005, she's served as Sr. Associate Director of Athletics for Olympic Sports and SWA serving on the AD’s senior leadership team, overseeing nine teams, and serving as Title IX and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion officer for the department.

Prior to Southern Miss, she was a Bundeskanzler Scholar with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Friberg, Germany in 1997-98. She was Coordinator of Multicultural Programs for Athletics at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln from 1993-97. From 1991-1993, she was a Compliance & Academic Affairs Assistant at the Southeastern Conference. She began her career in athletics as a Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach at The University of Mississippi (1989-91).

Varnell has a bachelor's and master's degree in public administration from Ole Miss and was one of five women who started the women’s track program there in 1985. A sprinter and jumper, she earned eight varsity letters in Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith at 10:00 am EST. Come 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 563-999-3513 or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 11. Seasons 1-6 can be found on 200plus.expert, previously broadcasted on Survival Broadcast Network. Seasons 7-10 are at www.chatinthegarden.com.