THE VILLAGE "THIS IS US" NEW SEASON 2024

 Sonja O. Stills has been a respected, well-known staple within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the past 19 years, and on Jan. 1, 2022, she took over as commissioner -- becoming the first female commissioner in the conference's history, as well as the first female commissioner of a Div. I HBCU conference.

With a proven track record of accountability, efficiency, and passion, Stills has risen through the ranks within the MEAC, beginning with her tenure at the conference in October 2002. Stills has made a name for herself among her peers and other industry professionals for her never-ending dedication to the conference and its student-athletes, ability to grow and innovate, organization, team-first mentality, and goal-achieving initiative.

In January 2021, Stills was promoted to Chief of Staff/Chief Operating Officer of the MEAC. In her new role, she ensures that the Commissioner is carrying out the strategic objectives of the Council of Chief Executive Officers and the Delegate Assembly. Stills remains the lead on all hiring, strategic and long-range planning, re-branding, and marketing, NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), conference budget, the renewal of the MEAC Basketball Tournament with the City of Norfolk, and all special events and activities. 

  Ms. Arrington has a long career as a financial aid professional. For over twenty years she served as Corporate Director of Financial Aid and Title IV Compliance for Strayer University (“Strategic Education- STRA”), during which time the University grew from two to nearly sixty campuses. Ms. Arrington has been an active member in student financial aid professional organizations for many years. She is Past President of the District of Columbia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, past member of the Executive Council of the Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and has been a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators where she served as Co-Chair of VASFAA's Minority Affairs Committee. On May 27, 2010, she was inducted in the Washington DC College Bound, Inc. Hall of Fame. The award is given by The Board of Directors, College Bound, Inc. to salute individuals, and/or community groups that have demonstrated on-going support for the mission and services of College Bound, Inc. Ms. Arrington performed as a Senior Adviser of Higher Education Services at Cooley PLLC. She assisted attorneys in the firm's higher education services practice to provide client institutions and organizations with expert assistance, technical analysis and guidance in the management and evaluation of student financial assistance services, with a particular emphasis on the Title IV student financial assistance programs. Currently, Ms. Arrington serves as the Director of Financial Aid for Office of Financial in the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Division at Coppin State University, Baltimore, Maryland. She received her B. A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

Marc Ross is an analyst on NFL Network appearing on various programs such as NFL Total Access and NFL Now. Before joining the NFL Network as an analyst, Marc Ross worked for a year as a consultant for NFL Football Operations, and prior to that, Marc spent 11 years with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls in his time with the organization. Marc spent five seasons as the Vice President of Player Evaluation and six seasons as the Director of College Scouting. Starting his career as a public relations intern at training camp for the Giants in 1995, Marc then went on to work for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1996-2000 working in personnel and then becoming the Eagles' eastern regional scout. At the age of 27, Marc became the NFL's youngest college scouting director, and he spent seven years there with the Eagles before moving to the Buffalo Bills in the spring of 2004 to be a national college scout. Along with the title of youngest college scouting director, Marc was named All-Ivy League Wide Receiver in 1993 and 1994 at Princeton. He holds five school records as a receiver and punt returner including most returns in a season and most yards in a game. Additionally, in 2019 Marc was named to the Princeton All Time Team of the Ivy League Era. While at Princeton Marc earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a master's degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1997.

Martha Sylla Underwood is a highly accomplished software technology industry veteran who has built a storied career spanning from IBM in Florida to Silicon Valley, and now Birmingham, Alabama. With a background in developing enterprise solutions for insurance carriers, creating early versions of healthcare patient portals, and positioning startups for acquisition through her expertise in business modeling and product optimization, Martha is a true innovator in the industry. Today, she serves as the Founder and CEO of Prismm, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the wealth transfer process at the end of life through technology 

 Raised by a military father and a corporate finance mother, alongside my identical twin sister and two younger siblings, I grew up moving and traveling frequently. This upbringing allowed me to comfortably engage with people from all walks of life. Although I have a degree in criminal justice, I chose to pursue a career in the hospitality and event industry. My journey has taken me from Seattle to Chicago, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, and now Southern California. I am passionate about helping people and creating magical moments and memories. Currently, I assist Ro! with managing the platform and handling day-to-day operations both in the office and at various event locations.