UIC Athletics

Karen Dixon was elevated to Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services in September 2022 after originally joining the Flames Family in February of that year as the Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services. She arrives at UIC with more than 25 years of experience in higher education and Division intercollegiate athletics. Dixon maintains oversight of the Student-Athlete Academic Services department while also serving as the academic advisor for the Flames men's basketball and women’s golf teams. Prior to returning to Chicago, Dixon served for more than two years at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, working with both Admissions and Advising. She also worked part-time as Student-Athlete Support Services Assistant at the University of Nebraska. From 2017-19, Dixon was Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services at Eastern Michigan University. There, she provided leadership and vision for the department while managing all aspects of Division I student-athlete support for approximately 500 student-athletes. During her tenure the Eagles posted an APR increase of nine points, achieved the second-highest GPA in department history in 2018 (3.24), and doubled the amount of community service hours from 3,500 to over 7,300. Dixon worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services/SWA at Chicago State University (2012-16). There, she managed all aspects of the Cougars' athletic academic support program while serving as member of the department's senior staff. Additionally, Dixon had sport supervision over the women's basketball, volleyball, women's soccer, and golf programs. Dixon also spent nine years (2003-12) at the University of Mississippi as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support. She oversaw all aspects of the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support for the Rebels, including directly advising the football and women's golf teams. Before Ole Miss, Dixon spent four years (1999-2003) as Senior Associate Director at the University of Maryland's Academic Support and Career Development Office, working with several teams as well as serving as CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator and SAAC advisor. Dixon has served on a multitude of national and regional academic boards and has presented at academic conferences across the country. Currently, she is a member of the National Association of Academic and Student Development Professionals (N4A) where she serves as co-chair for the Legislative Affairs committee. Dixon has also received both the N4A's Professional Promise Award and the Distinguished Service Award. Dixon worked on the editorial board for Houghton-Mifflin's Becoming a Master Student-Athlete and was a review team member for the NACADA monograph "Advising Student-Athletes: A Collaborative Approach". From 2007-2019, she has served as an instructor for the online course, "Academic Reform and the Student-Athlete," a joint venture of NACADA and the NCAA. Dixon has done site visits to several Division I institutions as one the N4A's APR Consultants. Dixon earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and Afro-American Studies from Indiana University and her Master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration from IU. Dixon and her husband, Dr. Samuel Dixon, Jr., reside in Chicago.

Francesca Wagoner, no stranger to athletics, is a UIC alum and former Flames volleyball student athlete, receiving her bachelor’s degree in criminology, Law, and Justice and Psychology in 2021. Wagoner went on to earn her master’s degree in Instructional Leadership in 2023.

In her current role as the Director of Academic Enrichment, Wagoner supports the overall academic success of student-athletes with learning concerns. Wagoner manages and implements academic plans that best support individual student-athletes and their academic journey's at UIC. Wagoner also oversees the Port Academic Center Tutoring Program and Study Hall functions. In addition to this, Wagoner advises Men's and Women's Tennis. Currently, she is a part of the N4A and Women in College Sports associations.

Wagoner completed her graduate assistantship at UIC with responsibility of assisting the Port Academic Center Tutoring Program, tracking and advising the Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, and Women's Golf team, and meeting one on one with a caseload of student-athletes focusing on time management, study skills, and writing skills. She also helped facilitate summer bridge programming and day to day administrative work for the Port Academic Center. During her two years, Wagoner was selected for the 2022 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar and was a member of N4A and Women Leaders in College Sports.

As a student-athlete at UIC, Wagoner participated in Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a team representative and Event Coordinator Executive Chair.

Wagoner is from Lisle, Illinois and currently resides in Chicago.

Ryan Raymond joins the Flames Family in December 2022 as an Academic Advisor for Student-Athlete Academic Services. Raymond works with Baseball and Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams at UIC. Raymond returns to the Chicago area from Norfolk State University where he served as the Director of Academics and lead academic advisor for Football. While also working with baseball, women’s basketball, track and field, career development and the C.L.E.A.R. Leadership Academy. Ryan also previously held positions in higher education and athletics at Louisiana State University, University of California, San Diego, University of San Diego, Fresno State, North Carolina Central, Georgia State and Florida State in either a full-time or part-time capacity. He also worked in ticket sales for the Miami Heat and interned while in college with the Los Angeles Clippers. His passion for helping student-athletes succeed is evidenced by his development of the first student-athlete career fair at Fresno State and helping the Women’s Soccer program set a program record with a 3.57 GPA. Raymond is a member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and a 2022 graduate of N4A’s leadership/manager Professional Development Institute (PDI) cohort. He is involved in ethnic concerns and membership, recruitment, and retention committees through N4A. A native of the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Raymond received his Bachelor of Science degree in sport and entertainment management at the University of South Carolina in 2009, where he was a rugby standout for the Gamecocks. He received his Master’s in Sport Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Coaching from Florida State in 2012, while continuing his rugby career for the Seminoles. He also recently attained a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace from the University of South Florida.
 

Summer Garrison is in her first year as an academic advisor for the UIC Student-Athlete Academic Services team, having joined the University in Aug. 2024.

Before coming to the Windy City, Garrison served as the DEI Coordinator and Student-Athlete Services Intern at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In this role, she not only ensured academic success for student-athletes but also created programs that fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging across all teams. Additionally, she interned with Trailblazing Sports Group, a sports agency dedicated to expanding opportunities in women’s sports, solidifying her as a passionate advocate for the advancement of women’s sports. 

Garrison graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, where she excelled as a soccer student-athlete and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree. She went on to earn her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown.

Originally from Pasadena, Calif., Garrison enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, coaching soccer to inspire the next generation of athletes and seeking out the best ice cream spots wherever she goes.