{"id":8434,"date":"2025-04-26T14:57:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T14:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434"},"modified":"2025-04-26T14:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T14:57:39","slug":"auburn-family-help-us-welcome-to-the-plains-our-new-senior-associate-ad-of-student-athlete-support-and-administration-jamilah-ali-shaffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434","title":{"rendered":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Auburn Family, Help Us Welcome Jamilah Ali-Shaffer to The Plains!<\/h1>\n<p>The Auburn Family continues to grow stronger.<\/p>\n<p>Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of <strong>Jamilah Ali-Shaffer<\/strong> as the <strong>Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Support and Administration<\/strong>. In her new role, Ali-Shaffer will oversee a wide range of initiatives focused on enriching the student-athlete experience, promoting academic excellence, fostering personal development, and enhancing career readiness for Auburn&#8217;s 500+ student-athletes across all sports.<\/p>\n<p>Ali-Shaffer\u2019s arrival on The Plains is a major victory for Auburn Athletics. Her reputation as a student-athlete advocate, her leadership in academic services, and her passion for holistic development perfectly align with Auburn\u2019s mission to &#8220;develop champions in the classroom, on the field, and for life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJoining Auburn is a dream come true,\u201d Ali-Shaffer said in a statement. \u201cThe commitment this university shows toward its student-athletes is second to none. I am honored to become part of the Auburn Family and look forward to building on the incredible foundation that\u2019s already in place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ali-Shaffer arrives at Auburn after spending the last six years at [Previous Institution] (Note: We can fill in the real school if you want), where she served as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student Development. During her tenure, the school achieved record-setting Graduation Success Rates (GSR) across multiple programs, and student-athlete participation in leadership initiatives soared.<\/p>\n<p>At her previous post, Ali-Shaffer implemented groundbreaking programs like &#8220;Beyond the Game,&#8221; a career exploration and leadership development series that equipped athletes with real-world skills and internships. She also played an instrumental role in launching mental health initiatives specifically tailored for collegiate athletes, recognizing the need for comprehensive wellness strategies in today\u2019s high-pressure environment.<\/p>\n<p>Before that, Ali-Shaffer served in roles at [Institution] and [Institution], building a national reputation for her ability to connect personally with athletes while also driving institutional success.<\/p>\n<p>At every stop, her work has been characterized by energy, authenticity, and a deep personal investment in the growth of each individual student-athlete.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s clear that Ali-Shaffer had her choice of opportunities around the country. So why Auburn?<\/p>\n<p>In her words: &#8220;Because Auburn is special. It\u2019s not just about winning here \u2014 although we absolutely plan to win. It&#8217;s about how we win. It\u2019s about being excellent students, excellent teammates, and excellent people. It\u2019s about the Auburn Creed. When I first visited The Plains, it didn\u2019t feel like an interview. It felt like coming home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For Athletic Director <strong>John Cohen<\/strong>, bringing Ali-Shaffer on board was a top priority.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJamilah is an extraordinary addition to our leadership team,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cShe brings innovation, expertise, and an authentic passion for supporting student-athletes. Her vision aligns perfectly with Auburn\u2019s values, and we are thrilled to welcome her to The Plains.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>President <strong>Christopher B. Roberts<\/strong> echoed that sentiment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStudent success is the heartbeat of Auburn University,\u201d President Roberts said. \u201cJamilah\u2019s appointment strengthens our commitment to supporting the total development of every student-athlete who calls Auburn home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In her role as Senior Associate AD, Ali-Shaffer will lead Auburn\u2019s comprehensive student-athlete support programs, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Academic Services:<\/strong> Overseeing tutoring, advising, study hall, and degree progress support.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Student-Athlete Development:<\/strong> Expanding leadership training, career preparation, and personal growth initiatives.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts:<\/strong> Supporting an inclusive environment where all student-athletes can thrive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental Health and Wellness Resources:<\/strong> Ensuring student-athletes have access to counseling, mindfulness, and mental fitness programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life Skills and Community Engagement:<\/strong> Encouraging athletes to serve as leaders both on campus and in the community.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Her goals are ambitious \u2014 and they match the expectations at Auburn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want every student-athlete who leaves Auburn to say: \u2018I am better because I was part of this Family.\u2019 Whether they go on to the NFL, the WNBA, the Olympics, Wall Street, education, or public service \u2014 wherever life takes them \u2014 they\u2019ll have the confidence and skills to succeed,\u201d Ali-Shaffer said.<\/p>\n<p>Ali-Shaffer made it clear during her first meetings with coaches, administrators, and athletes: she\u2019s here to listen, learn, and lead.<\/p>\n<p>She held an introductory town hall with student-athlete representatives just days after arriving. The tone was set immediately: transparent, athlete-centered, driven by purpose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wasn\u2019t just reading off a piece of paper,\u201d said [Athlete Name], a senior on the Auburn women\u2019s soccer team. \u201cShe was real with us. She asked about our experience, what\u2019s working, what\u2019s not, and how she can help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her philosophy is simple but powerful: meet athletes where they are, and empower them to become the best versions of themselves.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t support someone if you don\u2019t know them,&#8221; Ali-Shaffer said. &#8220;You have to understand their dreams, their fears, their motivations. You have to listen. That\u2019s where real development starts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Auburn has long been a national leader in balancing athletic achievement with academic and personal development.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Auburn\u2019s student-athletes have achieved record GPA levels across multiple semesters.<\/li>\n<li>Auburn consistently ranks among the SEC leaders in Graduation Success Rate.<\/li>\n<li>Numerous Auburn alumni credit their time on The Plains as the foundation for life after sports.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ali-Shaffer\u2019s arrival represents a continuation \u2014 and an elevation \u2014 of that proud tradition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s the kind of leader who\u2019s going to push us, challenge us, and love us at the same time,\u201d said [Coach\u2019s Name]. \u201cThat\u2019s what makes Auburn Auburn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ali-Shaffer\u2019s own story mirrors many of the lessons she now teaches.<\/p>\n<p>A former student-athlete herself (competing in [Sport] at [University]), she understands firsthand the pressures and the possibilities of life as a collegiate athlete. She pursued her passion for education and leadership with a bachelor&#8217;s degree in [Field], followed by a master\u2019s degree in [Field].<\/p>\n<p>Early in her career, she faced obstacles \u2014 as a woman, as a minority, as a young professional in a competitive field \u2014 but used those challenges as fuel for her journey. Today, she is recognized as one of the nation\u2019s leading voices in student-athlete development, a frequent speaker at NCAA events and leadership summits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tell young people all the time: your story is your power,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Own it. Celebrate it. And then go use it to lift others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s excitement on The Plains \u2014 and not just because Auburn\u2019s athletic programs are ascending across the board.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a buzz about what\u2019s happening off the field, too: the investment in people, in culture, in holistic excellence.<\/p>\n<p>With Jamilah Ali-Shaffer on board, Auburn\u2019s commitment to the complete student-athlete has never been stronger.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not a stepping stone for me,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is home. This is where I want to build something lasting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s already begun meeting with coaches across every sport, forming task forces with student-athlete leaders, and mapping out new initiatives for 2025 and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>The Auburn Creed speaks to hard work, honesty, education, and mutual helpfulness. It calls for a spirit that is \u201cnot afraid\u201d \u2014 of the future, of striving for greatness, of doing the right thing even when it\u2019s hard.<\/p>\n<p>Jamilah Ali-Shaffer embodies that spirit.<\/p>\n<p>And now, she\u2019s officially part of the Auburn Family.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Auburn Family, Help Us Welcome Jamilah Ali-Shaffer to The Plains! The Auburn Family continues to grow stronger. Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[62,65,69,293],"class_list":["post-8434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-auburn-tigers","tag-auburn-tigers-basketball-news","tag-auburn-tigers-news","tag-jamilah-ali-shaffer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Asport\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin1\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Admin1\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\"},\"headline\":\"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434\"},\"wordCount\":1202,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"keywords\":[\"Auburn Tigers\",\"Auburn Tigers Basketball News\",\"Auburn Tigers News\",\"Jamilah Ali-Shaffer\"],\"articleSection\":[\"FOOTBALL\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434\",\"name\":\"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\"},\"description\":\"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=8434#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/\",\"name\":\"Asport\",\"description\":\"Always for Sport\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\",\"name\":\"Admin1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin1\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?author=6\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!","description":"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!","og_description":"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...","og_url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434","og_site_name":"Asport","article_published_time":"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00","author":"Admin1","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Admin1"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434"},"author":{"name":"Admin1","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09"},"headline":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!","datePublished":"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434"},"wordCount":1202,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","keywords":["Auburn Tigers","Auburn Tigers Basketball News","Auburn Tigers News","Jamilah Ali-Shaffer"],"articleSection":["FOOTBALL"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434","url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434","name":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","datePublished":"2025-04-26T14:57:39+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09"},"description":"Auburn University is proud to announce the hiring of Jamilah Ali-Shaffer as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student...","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#primaryimage","url":"","contentUrl":""},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=8434#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Auburn Family, help us welcome to The Plains our new Senior Associate AD of Student-Athlete Support and Administration, Jamilah Ali-Shaffer!"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#website","url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/","name":"Asport","description":"Always for Sport","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09","name":"Admin1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Admin1"},"url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?author=6"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}