Goldsboro native gets promotion at UNCW

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 23, 2006 2:17 AM

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WILMINGTON -- Goldsboro native Sandy Williford-Morrison, who has served as the top academic adviser for UNC Wilmington's 350 student-athletes for the past six years, has been promoted to assistant athletic director for academics.

Williford-Morrison, who graduated from Goldsboro in 1989, has been the program's director of student-athlete advising since the fall of 1999. She assists student-athletes with their academic needs and tracks their progress toward graduation.

"Sandy has done a tremendous job in the student-athlete advising program," said Pat Howey, senior associate athletic director for compliance/senior women administrator. "Our student-athletes remain eligible, their retention rates are high and they have graduation rates that have them recognition.

"All these accolades are testimony to her hard work."

The Seahawks have excelled in the classroom under Williford-Morrison's tireless guidance. The NCAA and USA Today recognized UNCW in 2003-04 for compiling the highest student-athlete graduation rate for non-football playing schools. UNCW has ranked second among Colonial Athletic Association schools each of the last two seasons in Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Six UNCW teams received the NCAA's "Public Recognition Award" after scoring in the top 10 percent of all NCAA Division I teams. Through of the fall semester of the 2005-06 academic year, 128 Seahawk student-athletes compiled a GPA of 3.00 or higher and 11 posted a perfect 4.0.

Individually, numerous student-athletes have also earned honors during Williford-Morrison's seven-year tenure. Included in that group is Michelle Jarman, who emerged the CAA's Female Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year in 2004-05.

Williford-Morrison, the daughter of Lyn and Judy Williford, was a four-year letterwinner for the Seahawks from 1990-93 and later served as head women's tennis coach from 1997-99. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Recreation from UNCW in 1993 and completed her Master's Degree in Educational Administration from UNCW in 1996.