Ariel V. Germain is a proud two-time North Carolina Central University graduate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a concentration in journalism, a minor in English literature, and a master of science degree in athletic administration.

The Detroit, Mich., native arrived at NCCU in the fall of 2002 as a women’s volleyball student-athlete with aspirations to follow in her head coach’s (Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree) footsteps to become a collegiate-level coach. After her undergraduate matriculation, as a heavily active member of the NC Central community and notching two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference titles, Germain set out on her collegiate athletic career. Making her first stop at North Carolina A&T State University, where she served as the assistant women’s volleyball coach. After that brief stint, she returned to the Nest to re-engage her passion as a communication student by working with the illustrious deputy athletic director for strategic communications, Kyle Serba. Under Serba’s tutelage, Germain began her pathway into collegiate marketing and communications.

Her ambition and drive have led her to two stints at Howard University. She was an assistant athletic director for sports information and an associate athletic director for external operations. Both opportunities allowed her to showcase her talent for marketing, branding, storytelling, website content creation, gameday operations, and social media development. Her resume includes stints at the Catholic University of America, where she was the first black athletic administrator, Winston-Salem State University (athletic marketing director), and UNC Greensboro (marketing and communications director for student affairs).

Germain returned to NCCU to support the athletic department’s marketing and development initiatives at the height of the global pandemic. Once again, under the direction of Dr. McCree, Germain helped the office of resource acquisitions development and implement the Stronger Together fundraising campaign to offset the loss of gameday revenue from the pandemic while retaining engagement. The year-long campaign raised $87,000 within the first 90 days and safely incorporated alums, student-athletes, and Eagle athletic administrators.

After a lengthy stint in collegiate athletics between divisions one, two, and three, Germain made a significant shift in her career into student affairs at the Nest. As the director of marketing and communications for the NC Central University Division of Student Affairs, she found a new niche that ignited a new passion for student engagement through communications.

In this role, Germain supports the Division’s 21 departments, handles signature division events, and serves as the marketing and communications chair for the Ultimate Homecoming Experience.

Outside of her work duties, Germain is an active member of the Durham community. She works as an administrative volunteer for StrongHER Together’s VillageHERs program. A non-profit organization in Durham, N.C., whose mission is to teach girls to stick together, no matter how different they are, and to use their collective power in the fight for equity.

She volunteers and serves on the board of StepUp Durham, a non-profit that provides free employment training services to Durham job seekers, especially those with challenges to gainful employment.

Germain is a Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation board member and serves on the marketing and communications committee. She is also a North Carolina Central University Department of Mass Communication Public Advisory Council member.

Germain is pursuing her Ph.D. in communications from Liberty University and attributes her drive and success as the best representation of herself for her mother and younger sister.