Tonya Gibbs
Tonya Gibbs serves as Associate Director of Athletic Stewardship & Engagement for The University of Memphis, where she leads donor engagement and premium hospitality experiences for Memphis Athletics. A proud alumna of the university, she returned to her alma mater to oversee stewardship strategy, manage premium seating and suite operations on game days, design meaningful recognition programs, and plan events for athletic supporters. From coordinating catering, entertainment, and game-day logistics to directing a customized annual stewardship plan, Tonya ensures that donors feel valued, appreciated, and deeply connected to the success of Memphis Athletics. She also has been a team liaison during the 2023 NCAA Men's March Madness Rounds One & Two, being the local contact for multiple visiting athletic programs. Tonya began her professional career following her 2020 graduation, entering the workforce in 2021 and building a strong foundation in development, marketing, and event coordination. Prior to her current role, she served as Development Coordinator at Porter-Leath, where she managed donor reporting, social media content, fundraising events, and large-scale community initiatives. Her ability to blend marketing creativity with relationship-building seamlessly positioned her to transition into athletic development. A graduate of The University of Memphis with a degree in Event Management and a Marketing minor, she was named to the Dean’s List and inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success for her academic achievement and leadership. Driven by a passion for hospitality and connection, Tonya focuses on delivering memorable, personalized donor experiences that reflect gratitude and excellence. She takes pride in innovating her stewardship efforts each year—whether through thoughtful keepsakes, creative communications, donor trips, or elevated game-day experiences—and values teamwork, transparency, and continuous learning in a fast-paced athletics environment. Recognized publicly by athletic leadership for her contributions, Tonya remains committed to honoring supporters who invest in Memphis Athletics and ensuring every game day experience reflects the pride and energy of Tiger Nation.
• Digital Marketing Certification
• University of Memphis
• Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Dean's List
• National Society of Leadership and Success
What do you attribute your success to?
I think having a really good support system has been key to my success. You find your people everywhere you work, but here I found a lot of people around my age who want the same things. I've also been lucky to have two really good supervisors in my two and a half years here, and they're both women. When I have to complain about working in an all-male-dominated field, she and I can sit down and say, "Let's talk, and then we can jump right in and figure out what we need to do next." Just being transparent with our teammates, when I need help in areas, and knowing that they're gonna have my back, really helps my job and helps on game days a lot.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say if there is a position or job you're curious about, do the research and find out who you need to talk to. When I was an undergrad, I interned for the marketing department here before COVID shut everything down, and figuring out that I can get my foot in the door that helped me not only get this job but also get some experience with being on my feet and making sure everything's go, go, go. I switched from marketing to a development team, but this is where I have found that my skills work the best, and I'm really good at it. Get your foot in the door where you can. It may not be what you want at first, but if you see an opportunity, just ask. Just ask the question of, what can I do to do what you do.