Willonda Hunt Thomas joined the Athletics Department in August 2024. She is the Director of Athletics for Strategic Partnerships & Logistics.
Willonda brings a wealth of experience and a versatile skill set to the role. She spent over a decade as a Compliance Business Analyst for Republic Mortgage Insurance Company from 1997 to 2010. Following her tenure there, she transitioned to Cancer Services, where she served for two years as a Patient Advocate and then as the Marketing & Development Director for ten years. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to create and own a thriving graphic design business, Lillie K Designs.
Born and raised in the heart of Winston-Salem, NC, Willonda Hunt Thomas embodies the spirit and legacy of athletic excellence. Coming from a family deeply rooted in sports, her mother, Conita Archie Hunt, stands as a beacon of inspiration, celebrated as a 1987 inductee into the Winston-Salem Sports Hall of Fame for her remarkable achievements in tennis. Conita is one of the legendary Archie Twins from the storied tennis legends of Winston-Salem, the Archie Family. Willonda’s father, William Hunt, also etched his name in Winston-Salem history as one of the first African American men to play football at RJ Reynolds High School in the 1960s. He was a proud alumnus of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), Class of 1973, and a member of the Delta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Willonda is a true product of Winston-Salem, graduating from RJ Reynolds High School in 1993, where she shone brightly as a cheerleader for all four years, culminating in her role as Captain of the Varsity Squad during her senior year. Her academic journey continued at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Exercise Science from 1993–1997. In 2008, she furthered her education by receiving her Master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Willonda is married to her college love, Eric Thomas, who played Strong Safety for the UNC Chapel-Hill Tar Heels from 1990–1995. Together, they are proud parents to four smart and athletic young men—Kameron, Bryson, Bryan, and Brandon—and a beloved Maltese, Benji. Although Willonda is not an alumna of WSSU, her connections to the university run deep. She spent countless days on the WSSU campus and at Bowman Gray Stadium cheering the Rams on with her family. This rich history and personal connection make her proud to call herself a RAM at heart. Willonda Hunt Thomas is excited to leverage her extensive experience and deep community ties to foster strategic partnerships and enhance logistics for WSSU Athletics. She is wholeheartedly committed to propelling the Rams to new heights and fostering an environment of excellence and unity.
