• Academic All-America
Co-chaired by Bernie Cafarelli, Notre Dame [cafarelli.1@nd.edu] and Mark Beckenbach, Ohio Wesleyan [mlbecken@owu.edu]
Board Liaison: Mark Fleming, Moravian and John Humenik, CoSIDA Executive Director
The Academic All-America® program was initiated in 1952 and stands as CoSIDA’s largest committee. The corporate sponsor of the AAA program is Capital One. To be considered a student-athlete must be nominated by an active member of CoSIDA. The core program of the Capital One Academic All-America® committee entails that after a district vote, the elected candidates form a national ballot for vote by a national committee. The national committee votes to select a first, second and third team (except in football) as well as an Academic All-America® of the Year.
Capital One Academic All-America® Teams are selected at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels plus a college division team that includes NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools in the following sports: Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Football, Women’s Volleyball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men's At-Large, Women's At-Large, Men's Track & Field/Cross Country and Women's Track & Field/Cross Country.
Along with the committee’s core program, the Academic All-America® committee also oversees the Academic® All-America Hall of Fame Program.
• Allied Organizations
Chaired by Robert McKinney [rmckinne@willamette.edu]
Board Liaison: Kent Brown, Illinois
The purpose of this committee is to act as a liaison between CoSIDA and organizations which can make use of the expertise of any or all its members. The goals of this committee will be achieved through various means like the creation of a CoSIDA Experts and Speakers guide plus compiling lists of public relations professionals in athletics outside of CoSIDA.
• Committee on Committees
Chaired by Debbie Copp [dcopp@ou.edu]
Board Liaison: Mark Fleming, Moravian
The purpose is to determine staffing assignments for all committees. This will be done through interaction with the CoSIDA membership as to their interests in service plus working with committee chairs as find out what their staffing needs are. This committee will also work with the CoSIDA Board of Directors and membership to keep the committees of the organization relevant to our diverse profession.
• Convention Program
Chaired by Board Liaison: Eric McDowell, Union (N.Y.), CoSIDA 2nd VP [
mcdowele@union.edu]
The purpose of this committee is to plan and organize the educational program for the annual CoSIDA Convention, working with the Board of Directors and divisional leadership to plan a relevant program that represents the diversity of our organization. In addition, this committee works with the CoSIDA Board of Directors and divisional leadership to provide a series of continuing education topics for the membership outside of the time of the CoSIDA Convention.
• Convention Operations Committee (new committee being formed in 2012-13)
Board Liaison: Will Roleson, Director of Internal Operations/Treasurer
• Goodwill and Wellness
Chaired by Sam Atkinson [john-samuel.atkinson@gallaudet.edu]
Board Liaison: Cindy Fotti, Columbia (Mo.)
Previously known as the Charity Committee, this group is involved in fundraising for worthy organizations and community service activities during the CoSIDA Workshop and during the academic year. This committee conveys the organization’s desire to help those in need while at the same time fostering social awareness and togetherness within its membership. Wellness was added to this committee’s name and mission in 2011-12. The group will provide the CoSIDA membership with a variety of tools and programming to help promote total body and mind wellness.
• Job Seekers
Chaired by Lawrence Fan [lawrence.fan@sjsu.edu]
Board Liaison: Steve Flegel, Whitworth
This committee acts as CoSIDA’s main career center, handling information on the most current job transactions and current position openings within collegiate athletics communications. This committee will assist qualified candidates to find employment within collegiate athletics communications and will help employers find qualified candidates to fill open positions. This committee will also provide interested members with a job seekers primer with information on job-related activities.
• Membership Services
Chaired by Blake Timm [timmbr@pacificu.edu]
Board Liaison: Dave Walters, Guilford
The Membership Services Committee's charge is to develop avenues by which to help CoSIDA members excel as professionals. The committee is charged with the development and maintenance of the organization's online Membership Resource Library, assisting CoSIDA staff with the maintenance of the CoSIDA Directory and in developing new avenues to welcome new members to both the organization and the profession. The Membership Services group has an ultimate goal of securing 100 percent membership nationwide and in Canada.
• New Media/Technology
Chaired by Chris Syme [2cksyme@gmail.com]
Board Liaison: Rob Carolla, Big 12 Conference & Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of External Affairs
The committee formulated its principal goal as one of educating the overall membership on the strategic use of new media and its technology in the athletic communications profession. The committee also serves as an information resource bank for the CoSIDA website. It is hoped the committee can serve as an ongoing reference source for the membership and for the broader field of college athletics professionals.
• Nominating
Chair & Board Liaison: Justin Doherty, University of Wisconsin (CoSIDA Past President) [jmd@athletics.wisc.edu]
Committee reviews and votes at each convention on the upcoming slate of Board of Directors and officers candidates. Committee is comprised of past presidents, out-going CoSIDA president and out-going Board members.
• Publications Contest
Chaired by Chad Grubbs [cgrubbs@hsutx.edu]
Board Liaison: Dan Drutz, Saint Peter’s University
The committee serves as a means of recognizing outstanding work by CoSIDA members. Any company or business is motivated by a desire to excel and the publications contest serves this purpose. This committee will judge online media guide publications as well as posters.
• Scholarship
Chaired by Carol Hudson [chudson@odu.edu]
Board Liaison: Ed Hill, Howard University
This committee was formulated to be the decision-making group in terms of determining worthy candidates for CoSIDA-based scholarships. CoSIDA has been fortunate to provide financial help for those newcomers and up-and-coming individuals who need opportunities to further themselves in this profession.
The organization will distribute a total of $25,000 to scholarship winners during the academic year after choosing a pair of $5,000 postgraduate scholarship recipients, two more $2,500 undergraduate scholarship winners, and one school to receive a $10,000 Graduate internship grant.
• Special Awards
Chaired by Tam Flarup [tjf@athletics.wisc.edu]
Board Liaison: Justin Doherty, University of Wisconsin
This committee is responsible for selection of the annual awards presented at the CoSIDA Workshop. Those awards include the Hall of Fame, 25-Year, Arch Ward, Jake Wade, Warren Berg, Bob Kenworthy, Keith Jackson, Trailblazer, Bud Nangle, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Bill Esposito Backbone awards.
Online nominations are open year round, closing only from January 1 to March 1 to allow the committee to vote on nominees. Committee members will be provided the nominating information by the chair. The committee, which is comprised of CoSIDA members with 10 or more years of experience in the field, will vote online to select the award winners. These winners will be honored at the site of the annual CoSIDA Convention.
• Writing Contest
Chaired by Wade Steinlage [steinlagew@wmpenn.edu]
Board Liaison: Ed Hill, Howard University
The purpose of the CoSIDA Writing Committee is to encourage, honor and improve the quality of writing within the profession. The committee sponsors an annual writing contest with multiple categories open to all CoSIDA members.