This feature is one of the many profiles we are doing to showcase our diverse CoSIDA membership during 2016 CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week. To see all the feature stories leading up to - and during - CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week,
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OUR STORIES
Katie Mucci
Assistant Commissioner, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Chair, CoSIDA New Media Committee
CoSIDA Publications & Digital Design Committee member
by Chevonne Mansfield, American Athletic Conference Director of Communications/CoSIDA Week Committee member
At the age of 23, Mucci is the youngest CoSIDA member to hold a committee chair position as she serves as
chair of the New Media committee. After the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference was awarded one of 18 NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grants in 2014, the conference hired Mucci as the league's assistant director of communications & new media on August 1st, 2014. She was promoted to assistant commissioner in the summer of 2015.
In addition to coordinating and developing all publicity for the 18 SCAC sports, she coordinates the SCAC's social media accounts and develops all the graphics and branding looks for the conference's communications platforms and championship events. Her creative flair has helped the SCAC's Instagram and Facebook pages become the most "liked" or "followed" accounts out of all NCAA Division III conferences. Among her other conference duties, Mucci coordinates all the conference apparel sales and serves as an advisor for the conference's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
She is a 2014 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in business administration. As a senior, she served as the school's sports information intern and also was the marketing manager for the UNC school newspaper, coordinating the strategies to celebrate the paper's 95th birthday.
What are some of your responsibilities as chair of the CoSIDA New Media Committee? When did you
Mucci (far right, framed) at work with colleagues.
first get involved with the committee?
Mucci: I first got involved with the committee last spring. Sam Atkinson reached out to me after some 'gossip' went around that I was good at this technology stuff. I spoke with him and after a little bit of hesitancy, decided . "why not?" and jumped right in. Initially I took over the committee with the help of fellow chairs Everett Hutto (Winthrop) and Christopher Sabato (Williamette). We put a couple things into play right away, including a very quickly planned Continuing Education call where nearly 300 people participated!
Some of my responsibilities are related around helping plan/produce continuing education sessions that are geared towards new media, as well as coming up with informative content focused on new trends in social media or technology. I also worked with other CoSIDA members to gather some quality templates that we've made available for a free download on CoSIDA Connect.
What is the best advice you've received for career development?
Mucci: I'd say the best advice I've ever received is to, especially at my age, be willing to go outside of your job description. As an assistant commissioner in a conference office, I know that someday I'd like to move to a bigger role, so I'm more than willing to step in and take on some tasks that might not fit my normal job but that will help me learn and grow down the line. Also, I went to the NACWAA Rally (convention) recently and heard a great line from a keynote speech: 'Ask for a job and you will get advice, ask for advice and you will get a job'.
What is the biggest challenge you face working in sports, and in particular, athletics communications?
Mucci: As a female, there are a lot of challenges I - and other women - face that I think a lot of men in this field don't realize are even happening. This is such a male-dominated industry, that it's hard to get taken seriously sometimes. I've been at my current job for two full seasons now, and I still come in contact with people who don't think I can "hang with the boys", so to speak. Luckily, my work has spoken for itself and I've been able to prove to MOST people that I can.
Another big challenge is my age. I got this job less than six months after I turned 21, so a lot of people weren't sure if I was mature or responsible enough, nor did they take me too seriously when I'd ask for something or need them to do something. That's another situation where I just let my work speak for itself and I've been able to confidently express to people that I am I fact very qualified for my job.
Can you share a networking tip you've learned?
Mucci: Talk. To. Everyone. I hate seeing people go to events and only network with those they think can do something FOR them. It's always great to meet people in positions that you strive to get to, however, you don't want to come off as someone who is always asking for something or needing help.
On the other hand, meeting people who are the same age or career level you is crucial. They become your rock and your support system when you're going through something tough at work. They're also probably going to be around longer with you, and will be very important contacts down the line.