What makes Donnita Wildly Capable?

She embodies a true servant’s heart, always putting others first and leading with compassion and integrity. At the same time, she is fearless in holding people accountable, calling them up or out when needed with wisdom and courage. Her presence inspires growth, honesty, and excellence in everyone around her. She is phenomenal, a rare and extraordinary mentor. – TRACY ZSERDIN

What does your typical day look like?

I start my morning with devotional time with God and lately, a two-mile walk prior to going to work. I am usually in the office by 9 a.m. and then I work on the day-to-day operations of our athletic department at Langston University.

What makes you feel proud?

Looking back over the hills and valleys of my professional career and seeing God’s hand and direction in the midst of the wins and the losses. Seeing the type of young men and women my former players have become brings me great joy.

What keeps you up at night?

I want to be the best at everything I do and sometimes I get so busy juggling the many facets of athletics that I operate in the realm of average. I hate that. I am often running through my to-do list at night and thinking about how to most efficiently attack the day!

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?

The inability to say “no” has been one of my biggest obstacles. The older I become the more I understand the value of time. There are no do-overs. Time lost will never be returned. I have spent too many days agreeing to add more to an already heavy plate and then dealing with the stress of trying to perform my duties at a high level. Sometimes you have to say “no” so you can be more intentional about how and when you serve, and most importantly, so that you can be the best version of yourself when you serve.

One year from today, how do you hope you’re different?

I hope I am delegating more duties to my amazing staff and being more intentional with my desire to train the next generation of leaders, especially women leaders. More women administrators are needed in the field of athletics. Women often do not have the opportunity to network in the same circles as our male colleagues and miss out on unadvertised openings and opportunities.

What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?

I would like for the community of Langston to have more affordable housing for staff and students at Langston University. We have a consistent enrollment and yet each year our growth is limited due to a lack of adequate and affordable housing.

What advice do you wish you could give your younger self? How might it have changed your course?

Go for it! Look for opportunities to align your skillset, passion, and creativity in areas that might be outside traditional norms.

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