North Carolina Central University Athletic Director Perkins has been named 1st Vice President of the FCS ADA, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association. The appointment represents a significant recognition of his leadership within the landscape of HBCU athletics and the broader FCS community.
The FCS ADA serves as a professional organization for athletic directors across the Football Championship Subdivision, which includes many of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities. As 1st Vice President, Perkins will hold a leadership position within an organization that shapes policy, advocacy, and strategic direction for athletic programs competing at the FCS level.
NCCU, located in Durham, North Carolina, is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), one of the oldest and most storied athletic conferences in HBCU history. The university's athletic program has long been a fixture in HBCU sports, and this appointment underscores the institution's continued influence in conversations about the future of collegiate athletics.
Perkins' elevation to 1st Vice President reflects the kind of institutional leadership that HBCUs have consistently brought to national athletic governance. Historically Black colleges and universities have played a foundational role in American collegiate athletics, and their athletic directors continue to shape policy at the highest levels of NCAA governance and conference leadership.
The FCS ADA role places Perkins in a position to advocate for the interests of Football Championship Subdivision programs, many of which are HBCUs. This includes conversations around funding, scheduling, playoff access, and the overall health of the FCS as a competitive division. The association's leadership works on issues that directly affect student-athlete experiences and institutional resources across member schools.
This appointment also reflects broader recognition within the athletic administration community of the expertise and perspective that HBCU leaders bring to national conversations. As HBCUs continue to navigate evolving landscapes in college sports—from conference realignment to NIL regulations to Title IX compliance—their voices in leadership positions remain essential.
Perkins' new role comes at a time when FCS athletics faces ongoing questions about competitive balance, financial sustainability, and the future structure of the division. The 1st Vice President position places him in a key spot to influence those conversations and represent the interests of his institution and the broader HBCU athletic community.
Why this matters: HBCU athletic directors like Perkins occupy critical leadership roles that shape the future of college sports. When HBCU leaders hold positions of influence within national athletic governance structures, they ensure that the perspectives, needs, and contributions of historically Black institutions remain central to conversations about collegiate athletics. This appointment signals continued HBCU leadership in spaces where policy is made and the direction of college sports is determined.