CHADRON – An accomplished administrator with more than two decades of athletic experience and a former vice president for the Denver Broncos, Dr. China Jude, has been named as Chadron State College’s interim athletic director President Ron K. Patterson announced Tuesday.
Jude, who begins April 8, will lead and supervise the CSC athletic department as the college searches for its permanent athletic director. Ted Tewahade, who was serving in the interim athletic director role, will return to his position as associate athletic director.
“I’m excited that Dr. Jude will be joining Chadron State College because she’s a great leader,” Patterson said. “Dr. Jude has a proven track record of success, demonstrates inclusivity, and builds engagement, and she will provide strategic thinking and direction to our athletic program. I’m eager to see what she will be able to accomplish.
“I also want to commend Ted Tewahade on the excellent leadership he demonstrated while supervising the athletic program in a temporary role.”
Jude is the CEO and founder of Auggie Oliver, LLC, a consulting firm that works to strengthen organizational demographics, as well as increasing engagement and culture. Jude’s clients include several universities, professional athletic organizations, and collegiate athletic conferences.
“I really am excited for the opportunity to re-enter the college space,” Jude said. “Having the opportunity to connect with President Patterson and learning about his vision for the college, as well as learning more about the wonderful people at the institution and the great things that are being done made me want to be a part of CSC. There’s a great team at Chadron State and it is a great opportunity.”
Prior to consulting, Jude was the inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the Denver Broncos from 2021-23. During her time with the Broncos, Jude collaborated with a variety of departments that emphasized cross-functional capabilities. She also helped launch events geared toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, and assisted with employee engagement and retention. She led the organization’s DEI strategy and represented the Broncos on social justice initiatives.
Before working with the Broncos, Jude was senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator (SWA) at the University of Wyoming from 2018-21. Jude oversaw seven programs at UW, including volleyball and women’s soccer. She continued efforts to increase employee engagement and developed strategies to increase the talents of the athletic department staff.
While at Wyoming, Jude was named to the Sports Business Journal’s Women in Sports Business Class of 2020 and was honored as the 2019 Women Leaders in College Sports Nell Jackson Administrator of the Year. Jude worked closely with the Title IX office and assisted with an eight percent increase in ethnic minority and female employees in under-represented areas by helping strengthen the university’s diversity and inclusion recruitment and professional development programming.
A native of Waukegan, Illinois, Jude, who was honorably discharged from the United States Naval Reserves, earned a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism from Alabama State University. She also has a masters degree in sports management and marketing from the United States Sports Academy. She received her doctorate in athletics administration from Northcentral University.
Jude has experience working in Division II athletic departments at Queens College in New York and Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. She was the Assistant Vice President for Athletics at Queens College from 2011-18. She managed a staff of 50 employees while leading fundraising initiatives that raised $3.7 million dollars annually. During her time at Queens College, the Knights won 14 East Coast Conference championships. At Cheyney University, the oldest Historically Black College and University in the United States, Jude served as the Athletics Director from 2007-11.
Jude’s other athletic career experience includes volleyball coaching stops at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington, Coppin State University, and the University of the District of Colombia. She also served as SWA at Coppin State and was the university’s director of compliance.
Jude was named one of the 50 Most Influential Black People in Sports by USA Today Sports, one of CORE Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Blacks Today, and was named in the 10th annual Sports Business Journal Game Changers: Women in Sports Business Class of 2020. Jude was also honored with the Women Leaders in College Sports Nell Jackson Administrator of the Year in 2019, which is given to an individual who demonstrates courage, conviction, and perseverance, and is an advocate for gender equity and diversity.
Jude is a current member of the board of trustees at the United States Sports Academic and the Sports Business Journal All-In Conference. Previously, she was the National Board President for the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association.
