The University of California, Riverside announced the hiring of Mark Dodson as the Highlanders' assistant director for athletic media relations. Dodson replaces Brian Blank, who recently accepted the sports information director position at California State University, Stanislaus.
Dodson joins the Highlanders after spending two years as the graduate assistant for sports information at the University of Redlands. While with the Bulldogs, Dodson was highly involved in all aspects of their 20 intercollegiate sports, including the hosting of Division III national championships in women¹s tennis in 2003 and men¹s golf in 2004.
In addition, Dodson volunteered his time at the 2003 NCAA Men's Basketball West Regional and the 2004 Big West Conference Basketball Tournament in Anaheim and the 2004 Baseball Super Regionals in Long Beach. He also completed his master's degree in Educational Administration while at the University of Redlands.
Prior to his stint at Redlands, Dodson earned his bachelor's degree in sports information and communication with a minor in media dtudies at Ithaca College (N.Y.). While at Ithaca, Dodson spent a semester in Los Angeles, where he gained internship experience working for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc. Public Relations and Marketing. He has also completed internship work with the San Jose Earthquakes and NBC News London.
A native of London, England, Dodson will be the main media contact for men's and women¹s soccer, women¹s basketball, and baseball at UCR. He will also assist on many of the Highlanders' 13 other intercollegiate athletic programs.