Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Track Alumna Earns "Twenty in their 20's" Honor
10/16/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field, General
Asia Rawls was awarded the honor by Crain's Detroit Business
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- 2013 Eastern Michigan University graduate Asia Rawls' (Waterford, Mich.-Waterford Mott) career has taken her far in the last seven years. The former Eagle is tasked with improving efficiency via web application of employees across 20 divisions at the world's largest auto supplier, Magna International. Luckily, the 29-year-old former 400m NCAA Championship qualifier and All-Mid-American Conference sprinter at Eastern Michigan is not afraid of hurdles.
"I get excited about the challenge in IT," Rawls said. "There are so many different ideas to manage and you have to be innovative as well as think about the ethics behind those designs and how they function. But working with applications is the beauty of my job — the challenges are unlimited, but so is the creativity."
At Magna, Rawls works with Microsoft and program managers from different functional areas to support and develop IT platforms and deployments. This capability allows engineers to process changes within production more efficiently in real-time.
Rawls, now a tried-and-true Detroiter after growing up on the move in an Army family, is a running instructor for We Run 313, a year-old running club with more than 500 members formed in the city. She also serves on the board for the Judith Diane Jackson Scholarship Fund. Rawls plans to deepen her roots in the city to "push Detroit forward."
"Whether it be through innovation or running or health, I'm plant-based and vegan, I want to be involved in Detroit," she said. "Everything I am interested in encompasses the new Detroit we all want to see. So I plan to keep grinding every day."
After earning her bachelor's from EMU, Rawls earned a Master's of Business Administration and a Master's of Computer Information Systems at the University of Detroit Mercy.
"Asia's success is no surprise to anyone who knew her as an Eagle" expressed Rawls' former coach Sue Parks. "She was an extremely hard worker and one of the toughest competitors that I've ever seen. It's obvious that she's taken the skills that she showed as a national-level athlete and a leader to her career. I have no doubt that she will continue down that path of success. We are very proud of her."
The Waterford, Mich. native made a significant impact when she arrived on the Eastern Michigan campus in the fall of 2009. As a freshman, she blew the competition away winning the 400m in her first-ever collegiate meet. Rawls upped her game the following season after being victorious in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay, earning her First Team All-MAC honors as her team hoisted the Indoor MAC Championship Trophy for the first time since 2000.
Her commitment and hard work during her junior year campaign elevated her to the national stage as she donned the Green and White at the Outdoor NCAA Championships in 2012, placing 23rd overall. Rawls remained an integral member of Eagles' track squad as a senior, cracking the top-10 in both the 400m and the 400m hurdles at multiple meets. At the 2013 MAC Outdoor Championships, she left it all on the rubber recording a career-best time in the 400m (54.89) and 400m hurdles (58.32).
Rawls' dedication to her craft has left a visible mark on the program with her achievements scattered throughout Eastern's record books.
"I get excited about the challenge in IT," Rawls said. "There are so many different ideas to manage and you have to be innovative as well as think about the ethics behind those designs and how they function. But working with applications is the beauty of my job — the challenges are unlimited, but so is the creativity."
At Magna, Rawls works with Microsoft and program managers from different functional areas to support and develop IT platforms and deployments. This capability allows engineers to process changes within production more efficiently in real-time.
Rawls, now a tried-and-true Detroiter after growing up on the move in an Army family, is a running instructor for We Run 313, a year-old running club with more than 500 members formed in the city. She also serves on the board for the Judith Diane Jackson Scholarship Fund. Rawls plans to deepen her roots in the city to "push Detroit forward."
"Whether it be through innovation or running or health, I'm plant-based and vegan, I want to be involved in Detroit," she said. "Everything I am interested in encompasses the new Detroit we all want to see. So I plan to keep grinding every day."
After earning her bachelor's from EMU, Rawls earned a Master's of Business Administration and a Master's of Computer Information Systems at the University of Detroit Mercy.
"Asia's success is no surprise to anyone who knew her as an Eagle" expressed Rawls' former coach Sue Parks. "She was an extremely hard worker and one of the toughest competitors that I've ever seen. It's obvious that she's taken the skills that she showed as a national-level athlete and a leader to her career. I have no doubt that she will continue down that path of success. We are very proud of her."
The Waterford, Mich. native made a significant impact when she arrived on the Eastern Michigan campus in the fall of 2009. As a freshman, she blew the competition away winning the 400m in her first-ever collegiate meet. Rawls upped her game the following season after being victorious in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay, earning her First Team All-MAC honors as her team hoisted the Indoor MAC Championship Trophy for the first time since 2000.
Her commitment and hard work during her junior year campaign elevated her to the national stage as she donned the Green and White at the Outdoor NCAA Championships in 2012, placing 23rd overall. Rawls remained an integral member of Eagles' track squad as a senior, cracking the top-10 in both the 400m and the 400m hurdles at multiple meets. At the 2013 MAC Outdoor Championships, she left it all on the rubber recording a career-best time in the 400m (54.89) and 400m hurdles (58.32).
Rawls' dedication to her craft has left a visible mark on the program with her achievements scattered throughout Eastern's record books.
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