Elisha Howell

Athletics

Counting Beans and Blessings

Elisha Williams is the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business and Human Resources, and has had a busy couple of months. She was roughly eight months pregnant when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, and was one of the first employees of the athletics department athletics director Charlie Cobb encouraged to stay home and telecommute to protect her and her unborn child even though her role is so critical. 
 
Shortly after spring sports were canceled, one of the next things that happened was a "cease spending" for the rest of 2019-20, find out what's outstanding, crawl to the finish line of making the budget for the year. Once that hurdle was overcome, the next part was to figure out 2020-21. Easier said than done when the majority of our processes involve in person communication, chasing down employees in different buildings for forms and signatures. Shortly after everything was shut down, Elisha and her staff quickly began to digitize the process and have one central location for invoices and constantly communicating with the department heads and sports teams to remain on track. 
 
The job is a tall task without a pandemic going on; the ability to bump into employees in the hall way with a friendly reminder was gone, and not only did her professional life take a sharp turn, her personal life was about to do the same. She, her husband, and daughter, were about to welcome a little bundle of joy in late April. Navigating the world is difficult enough, mix COVID-19 hospital/doctor's office restrictions and a new born baby and the stresses begin to mount. One thing about Elisha's personality is that she is a cool customer. When confronted with these types of news, life events, and sudden shifts, Elisha doesn't get rattled, she processes the information and then figures a way out. She's methodical that is the way she has always been, and that is what she continues to do. 
 
What makes this story even more of a blessing is the gap between Elisha's kids, it's roughly 13 years. Just when the Williams' were counting down the years to becoming empty nesters, the clock restarted, but they wouldn't have it any other way. The year 2020 has brought us a lot of tough news, but Elisha's story is the exact opposite. She continues to count the beans and her blessings every day, and we love that she does them both as a part of the Panther Family. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Charlie Cobb

Charlie Cobb

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Players Mentioned

Charlie Cobb

Charlie Cobb

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