North Carolina State University Graduate to Combine a Love of Sports, Wellness and Community Outreach to Facilitate Lasting Community Change in New Role
Durham, NC (June 20, 2023) — The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is excited to announce Lulu Black as the most recent addition to the DSC team. Black recently graduated from North Carolina State University and is looking forward to stepping into a role combining her enthusiasm for sport, wellness, and community outreach. As Assistant Director of the DSC, Black will manage internal operations such as organizational administration along with project management duties. She will also oversee the internship and grants and incentives programs while acting as lead for servicing of all bid-on and local events.
“I feel so thankful and privileged to be brought on as the assistant director for the DSC,” said Black. “Having lived in the Triangle area for several years, it is truly a dream come true to contribute to the betterment of my community. I’m so eager to create an impact and achieve equality for all through sport within the City and County of Durham.”
Prior to joining the DSC, Black was a member of the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Cross Country National Championship team during her time as a student at NC State. She also has experience working with sports organizations on the local, national, and international levels. She was a student intern with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an undergraduate research assistant with the NCAA Grant Research Program, and, as a student intern, had the privilege of being part of the North Carolina Bid Committee for the 2027 Summer World University Games. Additionally, she has served as the U.S. Ambassador for the International University Sports Federation.
“In Lulu, we’ve found a bright young mind with the grit, patience, strong work ethic, and teamwork mentality necessary to help further grow the DSC and make an impact on our community,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC.
Black joins the team at an incredibly exciting time for the DSC. The DSC recently hosted the first ever Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit on April 19, as well as various championships, such as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Lacrosse Championships, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Baseball Championship, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Championship, and North Carolina High School Athletic Association Softball Championship. As the DSC team works tirelessly to transform the Bull City into a championship hub, Black will be the ideal addition to the team to support these efforts. She will play a key role in the next upcoming DSC-supported event, which will be the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational for track and field held at Durham County Memorial Stadium July 21-23. As a fellow runner, she is especially looking forward to her involvement in this exciting event.
In her role at the DSC, Black will serve as the project manager on DSC projects like bid documents, facility development research, various marketing efforts and owned and operated events. As the key team member in charge of the grants and incentives program, she will coordinate and execute committee meetings, periodically evaluate the program, and oversee the budget. She will be the lead for all bid-on events and the lead contact for volunteers and interns. She will also be in charge of communication with stakeholders for events while reporting and supporting administrative staff at the DSC.
Black grew up in Indianapolis, where sports were an integral part of her community. Because of this upbringing and her personal experiences as an athlete, she is determined to use sports as a catalyst for positive change in the communities she is a part of. Black is the daughter of Scott and Jodette Black and enjoys running on trails, watching sports, being outdoors, making art, and cuddling with her dog Walter in her free time.
For more information about the Durham Sports Commission, please visit www.durhamncsports.com.
About Durham Sports Commission
The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a collaboration of the City of Durham, the County of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. The DSC was established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) with a mission to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events and is operated by Discover Durham. The DSC provides leadership for sports-based initiatives and create positive economic impact and quality of life in Durham and the surrounding region. Be sure to follow the DSC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all sports-related news in Durham, NC, and other announcements.