College Sports Information Directors of America

Related Content
• 2022 Special Awards Announcements and Features
• #CoSIDA22 Virtual Convention Home
• Past Rising Star Award Recipients

---

Denise Archetto – UNC Greensboro, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

CoSIDA Rising Star Award (University Division)

by Nicole Sasu-Twum – University of Delaware, Assistant Director, Communications and Creative Services

Meet Denise Archetto. To me, she started out as my mentor and then she became my best friend and confidant — and now she will forever be known as a CoSIDA 2022 Rising Star.
 
When Denise heard the news, I wasn’t sure who was more excited — it was probably me — because that is Denise: reserved, very humble, all about building great relationships, giving it her all to provide the best student-athlete experience and overall just being a great human being.
 
To say that this Rising Star recognition is well deserved is an understatement. 
 
 
How it Started
 
The Cranston, R.I. native graduated from Lasell College and was a member of the softball team all four years, including being named co-captain her senior year. Like any student-athlete looking for work during undergrad years, Denise landed in the athletic communication department and that experience gave Denise the chance to learn and hone in on her sports information skills.
 
Eager to grow, Denise moved on to an athletic communications internship up the road at Harvard University where she got her first taste of Division I life. There she met long-time Stonehill College Assisant AD/Communications Doug Monson (himself a 2022 CoSIDA 25-Year Award recipient), who was very strategic in seeking her once there was an opportunity to join the team at Stonehill. 
 
“I am super proud and she is well-deserving of this recognition,” noted Monson. “Denise always puts the student-athletes first — and it showed in the work that she produced while she was here. She received accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and CoSIDA.
 
To me, what really stands out is how she stepped up in a huge way when our head softball coach Kenneth LeGrice was battling cancer and his eventual passing last year. Aside from taking care of her daily duties, she took on the role of assistant coach and then she was someone the team could lean on while they were grieving. I didn’t see Denise as just my assistant; she was my equal, and a valuable colleague to everyone here. This award is long overdue because I feel like when I first hired her, Denise was already a rising star.”
 
Mentorship might as well be Denise’s middle name. She was always in the business of being a student of the game first so that she can pay it forward later. Denise served on the CoSIDAU committee, is currently an active member of the CoSIDA Mentorship Committee. She also took part in the NCAA Division II ADA Mentorship Committee last year. Denise contributed a CoSIDA 360 magazine piece two years ago about the SID tree from Lasell College … and somehow, was my mentor for two-straight years (thanks for that, Laurie Bollig!).
 
"Denise has been a rock star with her committee work, especially with the Mentorship Committee,” said Bollig, CoSIDA’s Director of Membership Engagement. “Although she's quiet, she's intentional about what she says and does within the context of her CoSIDA involvement. We are so fortunate to have a young professional like Denise who is committed not only to her own personal growth but also that of her peers."
 
How it’s going
 
Within the last year, Archetto made a big career move, going from Stonehill in Easton, Mass., to Greensboro, N.C. Last summer, Denise was ready to take on the new opportunity at UNC Greensboro – and she has been shining and showing her worth ever since. Tasked to cover five sports while being the department’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) liaison, Denise has made an immediate impact on the entire department.
 
In just a short few months, her story on senior track and field/cross county student-athlete Thomas Knepshield’s storm-chasing exploits was featured on the local news and in numerous publications outside of UNCG.
 
Denise prides herself to be a resource for her teammates and constantly wants to challenge herself and others around her.
 
"Denise is deserving of the Rising Star award because she embodies all of the quality traits of an outstanding professional who has already made an impact, especially here at UNCG,” stated Rob Knox, UNCG Associate AD for Strategic Communications and a CoSIDA past president.

“She has been a terrific asset to UNCG with her attention to detail, enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to go the extra mile. It has been a pleasure to serve as her supervisor and watch her accomplish plenty while continuing to grow as a professional.”
 
But it is not just Doug, Laurie, Rob or me that are proud of Denise
 
Here are some more reactions to Denise’s selection as a CoSIDA 2022 Rising Star.
 
“It’s no surprise to me that Denise is a Rising Star Award winner because of her willingness to learn and challenge herself daily. She is beyond a doubt a role model for all young female professionals in the industry and she is someone who has impacted many colleagues and student-athletes with her devotion to the craft and passion for uplifting others.”
- Shawn Medeiros, Endicott College Sports Information Director  and 2019 Rising Star Award recipient (College Division)
 
“When you think of someone in our profession who is a Rising Star, you think about a person who is most motivated, most capable and most likely to ascend to a position of leadership and responsibility. Denise Archetto fits this description perfectly.
 
Denise has done award-winning storytelling work and in her young career already has been recognized by CoSIDA, the USTFCCCA and the AVCA. She has demonstrated excellence in social media strategies and skills and also knows how to build consensus and collaboration. In talking to those she's worked with, everyone mentions that Denise is innovative, accepts challenges and sets the bar high for herself and her colleagues. We also appreciate the time commitment Denise has given to CoSIDA as a Mentorship Committee member.”
- Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Affairs 
 
“A rising star is someone who accepts the challenge to learn and puts their best foot forward in order to go beyond the job description. That is Denise Archetto. She is passionate about the athletics communications field and is always researching ways to bring a new look to her work while also telling the student-athlete story. I am extremely happy that Denise has won the Rising Star Award. She’s not just a Rising Star, she’s a rock star!’
–  Denise Thompson, University of Delaware Associate AD, Communications and Creative Services, 
 
And that is Denise “Rising Star” Archetto … now let’s celebrate!!