A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith copertina

A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith

A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith

Di: A Chat in the Garden
Ascolta gratuitamente

A proposito di questo titolo

 A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith: Where Significance Blooms in Athletics and Sports Business. A Chat in the Garden is a nationally recognized, weekly, interview-style podcast where women of color in athletic administration and sports business are spotlighted. Each guest shares her career journey, advice for others and current initiatives.

Fall 2024 marked the show's 11th season, with a listener base that has grown to 1.7K members in our private Facebook community: A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Seasons 1- 10 and season 11 (through December 2025) can be found on 200plus.expert.2024 Economia Gestione e leadership Management Ricerca del lavoro Successo personale
Episodi
  • Rolynda Contee, Certified Athletic Director for Baltimore City Public Schools, joins Monique A.J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden

    Rolynda Contee, Certified Athletic Director for Baltimore City Public Schools, joins Monique A.J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden
    Feb 18 2026
    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 Administration in 2024, standing as one of the most qualified athletic leaders in the region.

    Contee’s journey is rooted at Baltimore City College ("The Castle on the Hill"), where she first rose to prominence as an elite student-athlete. Her talent earned her a scholarship to Virginia State University (VSU), where she became a defining figure for the Trojans.

    During her collegiate career, she had the distinct honor of playing for the late Peggy Davis, a legendary coach and athletic director whose mentorship helped shape Contee’s own path in leadership. Under Coach Davis, Contee led the VSU Trojans to a CIAA Women’s Basketball Championship victory in 2002, an achievement that earned her plenty of athletic awards. Her enduring impact was formally immortalized in 2023 when she was inducted into the Virginia State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

    Before moving into the front office, Contee established a legendary coaching pedigree. Leading programs in Basketball, Softball, and Volleyball, she remarkably secured championships in all three sports, proving her ability to develop talent across different competitive arenas.

    In 2017, after a long and decorated coaching career, Contee made history at her alma mater by becoming the first Black female Athletic Director in the history of Baltimore City College. Under her leadership, the department has reached unprecedented heights. In 2022, she was named Athletic Director of the Year, a recognition of her masterful management of 24 varsity teams and the prestigious City-Poly rivalry. Her administrative tenure has seen the capture of 5 State Championships and 4 Regional Titles in various sports.

    Contee is a visionary for inclusion and organization. She is responsible for establishing the first and only sanctioned Field Hockey team in the Baltimore City, expanding opportunities for young women in Baltimore. Her influence extends further as the District 9 (Baltimore City) Representative for Basketball, where she is responsible for creating schedules and planning major events for the entire district.

    In 2024, she successfully "bridged the gap" by bringing together BCPSS and CIAA athletic directors to create a recruitment pipeline for local talent and leadership. This year, she continues that legacy by hosting the First High School Athletic Summit for BCPSS and the CIAA, a premier platform for professional development and scholarship opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

    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.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora e 5 min
  • Tabitha Monroe, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Claflin University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden

    Tabitha Monroe, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Claflin University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden
    Feb 11 2026
    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.

    Prior to her appointment as Associate Athletic Director, Monroe served as Special Administrative Assistant to the Athletic Director, managing daily departmental operations, including budget coordination, team travel, compliance support, and serving as Director of Operations for all sports.

    A native of Jacksonboro, South Carolina, Monroe began her tenure at Shaw University in 2020 as a Graduate Assistant for the men’s basketball program, where she supported team operations, player development, and game preparation while pursuing her graduate studies.

    Her career in collegiate athletics began at South Carolina State University, where she served as Head Manager for the men’s basketball program from 2018 to 2020, overseeing team logistics, equipment operations, and facility management.

    Monroe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Pre-Law) with a minor in Spanish from South Carolina State University and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Shaw University.

    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.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora
  • Replay: Danielle Harris, current Commissioner for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden

    Replay: Danielle Harris, current Commissioner for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden
    Feb 4 2026
    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.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora e 1 min
Ancora nessuna recensione