McKinley Brooks-Sumpter

McKinley Brooks-Sumpter is a Graduate Student member of Women’s Basketball Program pursuing a Master of Arts in Communication at the College of Charleston, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Business from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She has been a part of four different D1 Programs over her career.With experience in coaching, team-building exercises, athletic marketing, and public relations, McKinley has contributed to in-game promotions, social media campaigns, and event operations, enhancing fan engagement and brand visibility. As a Student-Athlete Representative at UNC Asheville, she played a pivotal role in donor engagement, public relations initiatives, and coaching staff hiring decisions, ensuring alignment with team values and goals.

Beyond athletics, McKinley is passionate about leadership development, having served as a Leadership Development Coach for the SC Future 16U AAU Basketball Team. In this role, she designed training programs focused on teamwork, conflict resolution, and personal growth, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration among young athletes.

Her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident through her work as a Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), where she led initiatives to promote a more inclusive athletic community. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she received the Big South Leadership Conference Peer Award in 2023.

McKinley’s expertise spans content creation, social media management, public speaking, and strategic communication. She is proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Canva, iMovie, FastScout, and Synergy, with a deep understanding of digital engagement across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Committed to giving back, McKinley actively supports community initiatives, including Debbie Antonelli’s Annual Nothing But Net Fundraiser, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, and the UNCA Bulldog Anti-Racism Council (BARC).

As she transitions into a career, McKinley is eager to leverage her leadership skills and communications expertise to drive impactful storytelling, brand strategy, and audience engagement in the sports and entertainment industries.