Volleyball Highlights Former Scholar-Athletes During Black History Month
2/24/2026 2:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Davidson Volleyball's Black History Month Spotlight Q&A
The Davidson volleyball team highlights seven former scholar-athletes during Black History Month. Kayla Davis '25, Sola Omonije '24, Anela Davis '23, Sam Thompson '19, Layne Doctson '16, Latisha Chapman '04, and LaVetta Dawkins Patterson '89 are all making an impact in the real world. Below is a Q&A with each of the former Davidson volleyball scholar-athletes.
"The history of black female scholar-athletes in our program is the history of Davidson Volleyball," said head coach Chris Willis. "It's a privilege to highlight a few of the amazing women who have helped lead our program an then gone on to be leaders in their chosen fields."
Kayla Davis '25
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I am currently pursuing my Masters of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity at the University of Southern California studying to become a Sports Dietitian! I'm in my first rotation working as a Performance Dietetic Intern with the LA Galaxy MLS team. I plan to be a Sports Dietitian in the NFL, NBA, or Private Practice for Sports Performance.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I had a smooth path from Davidson to USC. The Career Center helped me write my application essays and go through mock interviews, which was extremely helpful in helping me get admitted to and earn a scholarship to my dream program!
3. What did you major in while at college?
I was a Biology major at Davidson.
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Take advantage of the resources you have at Davidson, whether that's people, grants, or opportunities! Ms. Allred (Davidson's Dietitian) helped me find my first internship with the SMU football team while grants from the Career Center helped with my expenses during all my summer internships!
Sola Omonije '24
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
Biomedical research at Weill Cornell Medicine
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I was a pre-med at Davidson and am now in my gap years working in research while applying to medical school.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Biology
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
The people you meet during your four years is a precious connection! Davidson is a unique place that has community well beyond campus.
Anela Davis '23
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I currently work at the intersection of my interests and degree, sports and computer science. I have a tech job in the sports industry as a data engineer for the Utah Jazz.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I spent time immediately following graduation exploring fifth year options. Once I decided to move on from playing, I thought I'd look into working as a software engineer or something applicable with my degree. But I had no idea what I really wanted to do. Following a few conversations with a Davidson professor and connections, I realized there was a career path in sports that I never knew existed. I applied to a few open positions with a handful of professional teams, MLB, NFL, and NBA. I knew I wanted to be in a competitive environment and still be involved in a sport. It's actually a funny story, I applied for a position I was not qualified for, my current boss followed up with a phone call and right off the bat told me I was not the candidate they were looking for to fill that position, but that they'd want to keep my resume if anything came up moving forward. A few weeks later I was informed of a position they were looking to fill and that I was a potential candidate they'd want. Within the next weeks I'd interviewed, accepted the position, and moved to Utah.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Computer Science (special thanks to Dr. R, Dr. Mendes, Dr. Michelle Kuchera, and Dr. Chartier)
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Your advisor is going to ask you what you want to do after college or what your interests are and you might not pay it much mind. I didn't realize how important those questions were until I left college. While I didn't know what I wanted to do after college, I didn't even know what I was really interested in. I spent so much time trying to take the right classes and do what other people were doing. I never allowed myself to explore my interests in college. I wish I would have taken an art class, a chemistry class, or a biology class. But I was too scared to fail or struggle through the class. Don't be afraid to fail or do something out of your comfort zone. You'll never know what you'll find.
Sam Thompson '19
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I am a finance associate at Latham & Watkins LLP.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
After Davidson, I worked at EY doing consulting in their Charlotte office for two years. I earned my JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago and started at my law firm here in Chicago following graduation and the bar exam.
3. What did you major in while at college?
I majored in Economics and received a minor in Communication Studies.
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
The sky is the limit! I would encourage all current Wildcats to remain dedicated to your goals and remember to leverage your network.
Layne Doctson '16
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I work for Colorado State University, where I serve as an Assistant Director for Annual Giving. I leverage digital strategy to design and oversee large-scale, university-wide fundraising initiatives. Think CSU's equivalent of #AllinforDavidson.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
My path from Davidson to my role now involves a slight zigzag. Immediately after graduation, I worked for a tech company and quickly realized I needed my career path and passions to be more aligned. That led me to a position on CSU's Athletics' fundraising team, where I worked for 6 years. My role in college athletics involved leading large-scale fundraising initiatives, opening up a new on-campus stadium, fundraising events, and former student-athlete relations. In 2022, I made the decision to join the Annual Giving team in search of opportunities to make a university-wide impact through fundraising.
3. What did you major in while at college?
My major was Sociology!
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
My advice for current wildcats is to embrace both sides of the hyphen in "scholar-athlete." You can and should be both. Davidson has so much to offer; take advantage of it all - join student organizations, apply for programs and internships, build relationships with professors. It's yours for the taking!
Latisha Chapman '04
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I have spent the majority of my career in change, transformation, and strategy work, most recently in the technology industry at Red Hat. I currently serve as a Senior Director of Service Strategy & Experience, where I am leading a large internal transformation focused on improving how employees navigate and experience enterprise services. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and human experience, helping organizations navigate complex change while keeping people at the center.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I began my career in financial services, and early on I had the opportunity to work on a project tied to the acquisition of my company. That experience sparked my interest in project management, change leadership, and solving complex problems during times of uncertainty. From there, I intentionally pursued roles that allowed me to lead transformation initiatives across banking and mortgage insurance organizations.
After many years in financial services, I made a deliberate pivot into the technology sector in search of a different culture and new challenges. While the industries changed, the common thread throughout my career has been leading project-driven transformation work while helping organizations evolve, modernize, and operate more effectively. Today, I continue that work at an enterprise scale, guiding large cross-functional teams through meaningful change.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Economics (undergraduate) and later an MBA
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Every experience you have, both the ones you enjoy and the ones that challenge you, is preparing you for something in the future. At the time, it may not always be clear how the pieces connect, but looking back, you'll see how each chapter shaped your resilience, perspective, and opportunities.
Be open to evolving. Your path may not be linear, and that's often where the most growth happens. Invest in relationships, stay curious, and don't underestimate the value of the skills you're building along the way, especially those learned through athletics like discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. One day you'll look back with gratitude for where it has taken you and pride in how far you've come.
LaVetta Dawkins Patterson '89
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
Bank of America (Senior Vice President - Operations Excellence/Process Design Consultant/Process Engineer)
Adjunct Professor - (teach undergrad and graduate level Businesses courses)
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I began my career right after Davidson College in the Management Associate Program at NCNB, now Bank of America, which launched my path in financial services and operations leadership. Along the way, I earned my masters (MBA) and later my doctorate (DBA) with a concentration in Strategic and Organizational Leadership, deepening my focus on enterprise transformation and leadership development.
Somewhere in the middle of building a career, I also discovered a true passion for teaching and mentoring, which I now live out professionally and personally. And in a twist of irony, after skillfully avoiding my swim requirement at Davidson until senior year, I eventually found my love for the water about 15 years ago and today serve as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor with the YMCA and with my swim club.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Psychology (w/ Industrial Organizational focus)
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Advice I would give to current Wildcats would be to embrace the discipline that being a scholar-athlete demands as it will serve you long after the final buzzer. Compete with excellence, but also invest in relationships, internships, and leadership opportunities that stretch you beyond your sport while at Davidson. And remember, the game may shape your platform, but your character and preparation will define your legacy!
The Davidson volleyball team highlights seven former scholar-athletes during Black History Month. Kayla Davis '25, Sola Omonije '24, Anela Davis '23, Sam Thompson '19, Layne Doctson '16, Latisha Chapman '04, and LaVetta Dawkins Patterson '89 are all making an impact in the real world. Below is a Q&A with each of the former Davidson volleyball scholar-athletes.
"The history of black female scholar-athletes in our program is the history of Davidson Volleyball," said head coach Chris Willis. "It's a privilege to highlight a few of the amazing women who have helped lead our program an then gone on to be leaders in their chosen fields."
Kayla Davis '25
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I am currently pursuing my Masters of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity at the University of Southern California studying to become a Sports Dietitian! I'm in my first rotation working as a Performance Dietetic Intern with the LA Galaxy MLS team. I plan to be a Sports Dietitian in the NFL, NBA, or Private Practice for Sports Performance.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I had a smooth path from Davidson to USC. The Career Center helped me write my application essays and go through mock interviews, which was extremely helpful in helping me get admitted to and earn a scholarship to my dream program!
3. What did you major in while at college?
I was a Biology major at Davidson.
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Take advantage of the resources you have at Davidson, whether that's people, grants, or opportunities! Ms. Allred (Davidson's Dietitian) helped me find my first internship with the SMU football team while grants from the Career Center helped with my expenses during all my summer internships!
Sola Omonije '24
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
Biomedical research at Weill Cornell Medicine
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I was a pre-med at Davidson and am now in my gap years working in research while applying to medical school.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Biology
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
The people you meet during your four years is a precious connection! Davidson is a unique place that has community well beyond campus.
Anela Davis '23
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I currently work at the intersection of my interests and degree, sports and computer science. I have a tech job in the sports industry as a data engineer for the Utah Jazz.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I spent time immediately following graduation exploring fifth year options. Once I decided to move on from playing, I thought I'd look into working as a software engineer or something applicable with my degree. But I had no idea what I really wanted to do. Following a few conversations with a Davidson professor and connections, I realized there was a career path in sports that I never knew existed. I applied to a few open positions with a handful of professional teams, MLB, NFL, and NBA. I knew I wanted to be in a competitive environment and still be involved in a sport. It's actually a funny story, I applied for a position I was not qualified for, my current boss followed up with a phone call and right off the bat told me I was not the candidate they were looking for to fill that position, but that they'd want to keep my resume if anything came up moving forward. A few weeks later I was informed of a position they were looking to fill and that I was a potential candidate they'd want. Within the next weeks I'd interviewed, accepted the position, and moved to Utah.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Computer Science (special thanks to Dr. R, Dr. Mendes, Dr. Michelle Kuchera, and Dr. Chartier)
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Your advisor is going to ask you what you want to do after college or what your interests are and you might not pay it much mind. I didn't realize how important those questions were until I left college. While I didn't know what I wanted to do after college, I didn't even know what I was really interested in. I spent so much time trying to take the right classes and do what other people were doing. I never allowed myself to explore my interests in college. I wish I would have taken an art class, a chemistry class, or a biology class. But I was too scared to fail or struggle through the class. Don't be afraid to fail or do something out of your comfort zone. You'll never know what you'll find.
Sam Thompson '19
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I am a finance associate at Latham & Watkins LLP.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
After Davidson, I worked at EY doing consulting in their Charlotte office for two years. I earned my JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago and started at my law firm here in Chicago following graduation and the bar exam.
3. What did you major in while at college?
I majored in Economics and received a minor in Communication Studies.
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
The sky is the limit! I would encourage all current Wildcats to remain dedicated to your goals and remember to leverage your network.
Layne Doctson '16
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I work for Colorado State University, where I serve as an Assistant Director for Annual Giving. I leverage digital strategy to design and oversee large-scale, university-wide fundraising initiatives. Think CSU's equivalent of #AllinforDavidson.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
My path from Davidson to my role now involves a slight zigzag. Immediately after graduation, I worked for a tech company and quickly realized I needed my career path and passions to be more aligned. That led me to a position on CSU's Athletics' fundraising team, where I worked for 6 years. My role in college athletics involved leading large-scale fundraising initiatives, opening up a new on-campus stadium, fundraising events, and former student-athlete relations. In 2022, I made the decision to join the Annual Giving team in search of opportunities to make a university-wide impact through fundraising.
3. What did you major in while at college?
My major was Sociology!
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
My advice for current wildcats is to embrace both sides of the hyphen in "scholar-athlete." You can and should be both. Davidson has so much to offer; take advantage of it all - join student organizations, apply for programs and internships, build relationships with professors. It's yours for the taking!
Latisha Chapman '04
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
I have spent the majority of my career in change, transformation, and strategy work, most recently in the technology industry at Red Hat. I currently serve as a Senior Director of Service Strategy & Experience, where I am leading a large internal transformation focused on improving how employees navigate and experience enterprise services. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and human experience, helping organizations navigate complex change while keeping people at the center.
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I began my career in financial services, and early on I had the opportunity to work on a project tied to the acquisition of my company. That experience sparked my interest in project management, change leadership, and solving complex problems during times of uncertainty. From there, I intentionally pursued roles that allowed me to lead transformation initiatives across banking and mortgage insurance organizations.
After many years in financial services, I made a deliberate pivot into the technology sector in search of a different culture and new challenges. While the industries changed, the common thread throughout my career has been leading project-driven transformation work while helping organizations evolve, modernize, and operate more effectively. Today, I continue that work at an enterprise scale, guiding large cross-functional teams through meaningful change.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Economics (undergraduate) and later an MBA
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Every experience you have, both the ones you enjoy and the ones that challenge you, is preparing you for something in the future. At the time, it may not always be clear how the pieces connect, but looking back, you'll see how each chapter shaped your resilience, perspective, and opportunities.
Be open to evolving. Your path may not be linear, and that's often where the most growth happens. Invest in relationships, stay curious, and don't underestimate the value of the skills you're building along the way, especially those learned through athletics like discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. One day you'll look back with gratitude for where it has taken you and pride in how far you've come.
LaVetta Dawkins Patterson '89
1. What field are you in now, and what company do you currently work with?
Bank of America (Senior Vice President - Operations Excellence/Process Design Consultant/Process Engineer)
Adjunct Professor - (teach undergrad and graduate level Businesses courses)
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
2. What was your path from Davidson to your current position?
I began my career right after Davidson College in the Management Associate Program at NCNB, now Bank of America, which launched my path in financial services and operations leadership. Along the way, I earned my masters (MBA) and later my doctorate (DBA) with a concentration in Strategic and Organizational Leadership, deepening my focus on enterprise transformation and leadership development.
Somewhere in the middle of building a career, I also discovered a true passion for teaching and mentoring, which I now live out professionally and personally. And in a twist of irony, after skillfully avoiding my swim requirement at Davidson until senior year, I eventually found my love for the water about 15 years ago and today serve as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor with the YMCA and with my swim club.
3. What did you major in while at college?
Psychology (w/ Industrial Organizational focus)
4. Any advice you'd like to give to current Wildcats?
Advice I would give to current Wildcats would be to embrace the discipline that being a scholar-athlete demands as it will serve you long after the final buzzer. Compete with excellence, but also invest in relationships, internships, and leadership opportunities that stretch you beyond your sport while at Davidson. And remember, the game may shape your platform, but your character and preparation will define your legacy!
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballVolleyball - Us vs. Everybody
Monday, January 30
Davidson Volleyball - Carpool Karaoke
Monday, January 23
2021 Volleyball Intro Video
Tuesday, June 28
Catching up with the 'Cats: Chris Willis
Tuesday, April 21
