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CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
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Communicators Outside the Lines Feature Series
This is the next profile in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee. Read past profiles at
CoSIDA.com/CommunicatorsOTL.
WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Megan Jameson, St. Edward's University Associate AD for Marketing and Communications, at
mhardin@stedwards.edu.
Q&A with Drew Wilson
Averett University, Director of Athletic Communications
by Chris Mitchell – Granite City School District #9, Manager of District Communications
Goodwill and Wellness Committee Member
Drew Wilson is glad to be back home.
After graduating from James Madison in 2004, Wilson not stepped foot out of his hometown of Danville, Va.
Wilson spent four years as the Sports Editor at the
Danville Register & Bee before landing his current gig as Averett University's Director of Athletics Communications, a position he has held for 12 years. Averett is an NCAA Division III school and a member of the USA South Conference.
Wilson handles all media relations for the Department of Athletics and is in charge of Averett's game day operations and the production of written, printed and multimedia athletics content. He also manages Averett's athletics website (
averettcougars.com) and its social media initiatives.
Wilson is also very involved outside the office.
He serves on the marketing committee of God's Storehouse, a non-profit food pantry serving Danville and the surrounding area, and is a deacon at West Main Baptist Church.
Wilson is a volunteer for various events at his daughter’s school - Forest Hills Elementary - and an active participant in the Danville Adult Baseball League. He previously served on the league's board and assists with the organization's website and social media.
Wilson and his wife, Heather, have two daughters, Caroline (7) and Annie (2).
Gallery: (9-30-2020) Drew Wilson Communicators OTL
Q. What is it like to work in your hometown?
Wilson: I take a lot of pride in working in my hometown. My career as a newspaper journalist coincidentally brought me back to Danville right after college. I had opportunities to leave and further my career in media, but I’m glad I didn’t. In 2008, the opportunity to transition into athletics communications at Averett presented itself and I’ve been here ever since. During the last 12 years, I’ve been able to be a part of not only the growth at Averett, but also in the Danville community.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Wilson: Providing a positive student-athlete experience is my favorite part about my job. Seeing our student-athletes at Averett succeed not only in sports but also in the classroom and in the community through engagement is an inspiration. I always aim to go above and beyond to celebrate and highlight their accomplishments in order to make their time at Averett as memorable as possible.
Q. How do you find time to volunteer with such a busy schedule?
Wilson: For me, time management is crucial when balancing family, work and volunteering. It’s not always easy, but my wife and I know that it is vital to set a good example for our girls and show them that giving back in important. I’m thankful that my schedule is flexible enough to allow me to serve the organizations I’m involved with, and serving my church or volunteering at my oldest daughter’s school allow me to incorporate my family in the process. Living in a place such as Danville, where I can be practically anywhere within 10-15 minutes, is also beneficial because allows me to maximize my time and efficiency in all aspects of life.
Q. What do you enjoy most about giving back?
Wilson: I find happiness in making others happy, whether that is serving my student-athletes or serving others through volunteer work. I may not be able change the world, but I may be able to change someone’s world — even if only for a day. I’ve tried to embrace that mentality in whatever I do. You never know what someone else may be going through behind closed doors. The smallest acts of kindness may brighten someone’s day when they are in a time of need.
Q. What advice can you give to someone who has been skeptical about volunteering?
Wilson: Volunteering comes in many forms. Find a cause that you are passionate about and don’t be scared to get out of your comfort zone. You never know what kind of impact you can make or where it may take you. I never ever thought I’d find myself in another country doing mission work. Yet, a little more than three years ago, my wife and I volunteered to be part of a group from our church that went to Romania for a week to work with underprivileged children at the Ruth School and help provide educational support.
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