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This story is part of our August 2022 CoSIDA 360 package, to view more stories,
click here.
Reflections from Vegas
by Erik Christianson – CoSIDA Executive Director @CoSIDAErik
The popular tourism catchphrase is nearly ubiquitous now: “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.”
While that’s likely true for some visitors to Nevada’s largest city, the slogan doesn’t come close to describing the 2022 CoSIDA Convention.
Instead, our members are taking back with them much of what happened for them in Las Vegas. The important learnings from key sessions, divisional days and educational lounges. The new relationships and re-established ones with many others in the field of athletics communications. The honors and recognition for amazing work and career accomplishments. And overall, the knowledge about the future direction of our organization.
Meeting in-person for the first time in three years, and for the first time ever in Las Vegas, the energy was palpable. Our convention numbers are impressive. We were hoping for 700 attendees and topped out at 855. Of those 855, 308 were first-time attendees. Roughly 100 more were attending only their second convention in person.
Retiring Executive Director Doug Vance nailed it when he called it “the hugging convention.” We were all excited to be together.
As CoSIDA’s new executive director, I am thrilled to step into my role at such a momentous time.
The branding initiative started last year by the Executive Board of Directors and staff has been robust and data-driven. Next week on August 8 we'll announce our plans for our membership-wide vote for our name change. Read more follow up about what we shared at the convention here.
Our initial response to the new All-In membership model already is strong, with many schools and conferences adding athletics communications staff with creative and digital roles as members. And we just announced important and innovative changes to the Academic All-America awards program.
On the leadership front, Jessica Poole is our first-ever Black female membership president.
Clearly, we are emerging from the pandemic as a forward-looking and progressive association seeking to strengthen our profession and strengthen college sports.
We all know our work continues to evolve, and the tools we use continue to evolve as well. But as I mentioned many times at convention, the reason we do our work has not changed.
We are supporting student-athletes and telling the stories of college sports — and supporting those who do so. Overall, we are providing communications solutions for the college model of sports within higher education.
I believe the changes we have made and will continue to make as an organization will enable us to do our jobs better. And I expect we will further grow our association and be more inclusive to serve those working in both the traditional sports information and creative communications spaces.
But don’t wait until the next convention in Orlando in June 2023 to reconnect. There are many opportunities right now to take part in regular professional development programming, serve on committees and contribute in other ways.
So stay connected, reach out to our team, and keep leaning on the learnings and relationships from our time together in Vegas.
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