Dr. Genese Lavalais, Deputy AD/Chief of Staff/SWA at Alabama State University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden

Dr. Lavalais enters her fourth year at Alabama State University. She currently serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief of Staff, and Senior Woman Administrator, where she has been a driving force since 2022. Initially joining as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience, she quickly rose to oversee internal and strategic operations, student outcomes, and key departmental initiatives.Her leadership reflects over a decade of success in advancing student-athlete academic excellence, with programs under her direction consistently leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in academic performance, with student-athletes earning a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in eight out of ten years across her tenures at Jackson State University (five consecutive years) and Alabama State University (three consecutive years). Prior to her current role, Dr. Lavalais held impactful leadership positions at Hampton University (2019–2022), where she served as Director of Athletics Academic Support & Life Skills. There, she guided student-athlete success initiatives, advised SAAC and Chi Alpha Sigma, and helped the department achieve record-setting Dean’s List recognitions. At Jackson State University (2013–2018), she served as Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Senior Woman Administrator, leading efforts that resulted in consecutive years of SWAC-leading GPAs, a 981 APR score, and an 82% graduation rate. She also created the “S.I.P. T.E.A.” mentorship series to empower professional women on campus and served as acting liaison to the President’s Office in the absence of the Athletic Director, managing the department’s daily operations.Dr. Lavalais began her career in athletics as an academic advisor at Alabama State University in 2010 and later served as Director of Academic Enhancement at Grambling State University. She has also contributed to student-athlete development as a special assistant volunteer to the AD at Baton Rouge Community College, an intern at LSU, and a volunteer Girls Basketball Coach at Marksville High School.Dr. Lavalais is a recognized leader in college athletics, honored with the 2014 N4A Professional Promise Award, the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Arkansas University, and the 2025 SWAC Game ChangzHer Award.Her national service includes roles on the NCAA Committee on Academics, the NCAA Accelerating Academic Support Program (AASP) Selection Committee, and serves as a Circle lead for the Women Leaders in Sports Business and Administration group. She is also a certified professional through the N4A and was instrumental in securing N4A program certification for JSU’s AAEC, a ten-year certification providing a stamp of approval from the national organization. A committed educator, Dr. Lavalais is an adjunct professor at Belhaven University and Alabama State University, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in sport management, leadership, event management, ethics, and finance. Her blend of academic leadership, program innovation, and dedication to student success continues to shape the future of collegiate athletics. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration (Higher Education) from Jackson State University, a Master’s in Sports Administration from Grambling State University, and a Bachelor’s in Applied Science with a concentration in Health, Kinesiology & Recreation from Southern Arkansas University, where she was also a student-athlete and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.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.