Lawanda Pearson enters her 20th season as Head Softball Coach. She is also the Senior Woman Administrator and Academic Liaison for Clark Atlanta University Athletics.
Pearson joined Clark Atlanta University in 2003 and has served in positions of responsibility including acting athletic director, senior woman administrator, sports information director, compliance assistant, life skills coordinator, academic advisor, head softball coach, and the SAAC advisor.
Pearson served as acting athletics director during fall 2015, supervising 11 sports; overseeing day-to-day operations of the athletics department, including senior woman administrator, academic services, softball coach, business operations, compliance, event management, sports medicine, and the certification of athletes for competition.
Before her tenure at Clark Atlanta University, Pearson worked in athletic administration at Morris Brown College from 2000-2003, working in athlete administration and serving as head softball coach. After arriving at CAU in 2003, she served as a representative for the athletic department to assist in coordinating the implementation of the University’s institutional effectiveness system, involving accreditation activities and developing a strategic plan. She also was responsible for spearheading a committee of staff members to develop the athletic department student-athlete manual. Ms. Pearson served as Compliance Assistant from 2008-2010. She relinquished her duties as Sports Information Director in 2007 to become the Athletics department academic advisor, as well as continuing her head coaching duties for the softball team, SAAC advisor and Life skills coordinator. Pearson prides herself on ensuring that the Athletic Department continues to increase graduation and retention rates, and recognizes our scholar-athletes who serve as ambassadors for Clark Atlanta University.
In 2005, Coach Pearson was named the SIAC Coach of the Year. In 2009, she was the recipient of the Clark Atlanta’s Aldridge McMillan Staff Achievement Award for Customer Service, and while SAAC advisor, CAU received the 2015 and 2018 SIAC citizenship award for outstanding performance in community service and funds raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She was also named the 2019 Strong Impact Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Fellowship of Christian Athletes Urban Atlanta during their Atlanta Urban Scholarship Gala at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Ms. Pearson is a 2006 and 2007 graduate of the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy I and II respectively. In 2008, she served as an administrator in the DII NCAA Leadership conference. Then in, 2009-2010 she served as a facilitator for the NCAA Division II Leadership Academy in Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Oregon. She is also a graduate of the 2009-10 NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minorities females and males, as well as 2009-10 graduate of NACWAA/HERS program. Ms. Pearson has been an active participant in the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion conferences from 2010-2012.
Pearson is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administration (NACWAA), National Association of Academic Advisors (N4A), National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), and Minorities Opportunity Athletics Association (MOAA).
Pearson is a native of Kingsland, Georgia. As a player, she began her softball career in 1986 and participated in the Dixie Debs Fast-Pitch World Series as a representative of the State of Georgia as a pitcher and utility player. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Morris Brown College in 1995 and her Master of Sports Health Science degree from Life University in 2001. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, Tessence and Kylee, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
