Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Region: Cambodia

Sue Wicks

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2009  –  Philippines
  • 2010  –  Indonesia
  • 2011  –  Dominican Republic
  • 2013  –  Malaysia
  • 2016  –  Cambodia
  • 2017  –  Jordan

Sue Wicks was a first-round selection by the New York Liberty in the WNBA’s inaugural draft in 1997. Wicks went on to play six seasons with the Liberty, earning an All-Star selection in 2000. She also was the recipient of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2000. Wicks finished her WNBA career in eighth place all-time in blocked shots.

Wicks played collegiately at Rutgers University, where she was a three-time All-American and the 1988 National Player of the Year. She was inducted into Rutgers’ Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2013.

Wayne Ellington Jr.

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Cambodia

Wayne Ellington was selected 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft. Ellington, who spent last year with the Brooklyn Nets, has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. As a collegiate athlete, he helped lead North Carolina to the 2009 NCAA National Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Final Four.

Ellington was the recipient of the 2015-16 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, which is presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association to the NBA player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Neftalie Williams

Skateboarding

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Netherlands
  • 2017  –  Cambodia
  • 2021  –  Virtual
  • 2023  –  Barbados
  • 2023  –  Grenada
  • 2024  –  France

Dr. Neftalie Williams is the Director of San Diego State University’s Center for Skateboarding, Action Sports, and Social Change. His work delves into global issues surrounding race, gender, diversity, and youth empowerment, using critical theory to examine power dynamics, identity politics, and social transformation through the lens of action sports. Dr. Williams focuses on the lives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as their non-BIPOC counterparts, to provide historical examples of challenges and solidarity that can guide us toward a more inclusive future.

With a background in both academia and a deep personal connection to skateboarding, writing, and photography, Dr. Williams has made significant contributions to the study of skateboarding culture. He has published scholarly works, written op-eds for mainstream publications, and provided commentary for various traditional news outlets and documentaries, including The New York Times, CNN, ABC, Forbes, and the documentary ‘Reaching the Sky’ featuring Olympian Sky Brown. His research on race and skateboarding, conducted as part of the 2019-2020 USC x Tony Hawk Foundation project, was prominently featured in The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.

Dr. Williams’ extensive experience also includes positions at the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, as well as serving as a Yale Schwarzman Center Visiting Fellow in Race, Culture & Community. His scholarly expertise is complemented by his personal history as a skateboarder, writer, and photographer, which has led to features in publications like Transworld Skateboarding Magazine and Thrasher Magazine.

One of Dr. Williams’ pioneering concepts is using skateboarding as a tool for cultural diplomacy, both in theory and practice. He has spearheaded skate diplomacy initiatives for the U.S. Department of State’s embassies, engaging with youth globally and connecting them with their host country’s academic, sports, and cultural institutions. His work has taken him to countries such as Cambodia, The Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Barbados, and Grenada, aligning with his scholarly research in Brazil, The Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, and Cuba.

In an effort to expand public discourse on skateboarding culture, Dr. Williams founded “The Nation Skate,” a series of public panels, lectures, skateboarding demonstrations, and photography and skateboarding media. This initiative explores the intersection of race, gender, diversity, and diplomacy through the mediums of skateboarding, academia, and popular culture. His photography and scholarly endeavors have been showcased at prominent institutions like the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Ford Theater in Los Angeles.

Currently, Dr. Williams provides consultation on skateboarding and action sports for Disney Studios and Burton Snowboards. He is also a co-founder of the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships for young skateboarders pursuing higher education. Furthermore, he serves on the boards of the Tony Hawk Foundation/The Skatepark Project, Skateistan, McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, and chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for USA Skateboarding.

Kacey White

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Costa Rica
  • 2024  –  Cambodia

White was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team during her playing career. She earned 18 caps with the U.S. WNT from 2006-2010 and was an alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. She had a six year professional career that took her to play professionally in Sweden with Balinge and AIK, where she was named Uppland Forward of the Year. White was also a 1st round draft pick of the WPS and played for Sky Blue FC, Magic Jack and Atlanta Beat during her time in the league where she won a WPS Championship in 2009. White was an two-time All-American who won three (3) ACC Titles and one (1) NCAA National Championship in her career at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

White currently works as a TV broadcaster and color analyst for the National Women’s Soccer League, USL Championship and ESPN. She also currently owns her own business K21 Sports Consulting where she not only mentors elite youth, collegiate and professional athletes throughout their careers but also aides former collegiate and professional athletes as they navigate their transition from elite athletics into the professional work force.

White was formerly the Head Coach of the USA U16 Girls National Team, as well as, working extensively as an assistant for the USA’s U14, U15 and U17 World Cup National Teams from 2014-2018. She has also served as an assistant coach and video analyst with the US Virgin Islands Men’s Senior National Team. White had collegiate head coaching stints as Head Coach of Xavier University and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, while also serving as an Assistant at the University of Oklahoma and Texas Tech. White currently holds her USSF A-Senior coaching license and her UEFA B License from the Welsh Association.

Joanna Lohman

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2015  –  Argentina
  • 2015  –  Thailand
  • 2016  –  Botswana
  • 2017  –  Ivory Coast
  • 2018  –  Niger
  • 2019  –  Nigeria
  • 2021  –  Virtual
  • 2022  –  Virtual
  • 2024  –  Cambodia

Joanna Lohman is a keynote speaker and performance coach. She is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. She is the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired, honoring her 16-year playing career where she built a platform for social impact. She is the author of, Raising Tomorrow’s Champions, and an authenticity activator. She continues her influence as a Sport Diplomat and global leader who has shared her message with organizations all over the world, including: The Minnesota Vikings, The Human Rights Campaign, Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Qualcomm, Lifetime Television, Sanofi, American Staffing Association, McDonalds, CNN and universities all over the country.