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List of CSC Presidents through the years
“It is with great gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I serve as president of College Sports Communicators for the 2026–27 academic year. At a time of significant change across our industry, I believe our organization’s greatest strength remains the unity and collaborative spirit of our membership — a collective voice that creates meaningful, solutions-based impact and advocacy for our profession. The work of communicators and creatives continues to play an increasingly vital role in this era of college sports, uniquely supporting student-athletes, institutions and campus communities. I look forward to working alongside our leadership groups and nearly 5,000 members as we continue to advance and evolve the future of our profession together."
- Matt Panto, 2026-27 College Sports Communicators President
College Sports Communicators (CSC) has approved the slate of executive board of directors to serve the nearly 4,900-member association of communications professionals for 2026-27. The membership approval took place during CSC’s annual business meeting, held virtually on May 27.
Matt Panto, associate executive director, strategic communications & external relations, at The Ivy League will serve as 2026-27 CSC President. Panto becomes the 73rd president of CSC for a one-year term after holding the office of first vice president during the 2025-26 academic year.
Panto succeeds 2025-26 CSC President
Patrick Crawford, Purdue University associate athletics director - strategic communications. Crawford will transition to past president for the 2026-27 academic year as he completes his work on the board as an officer.
"It is with great gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I serve as president of College Sports Communicators for the 2026–27 academic year,” Panto said. “At a time of significant change across our industry, I believe our organization’s greatest strength remains the unity and collaborative spirit of our membership — a collective voice that creates meaningful, solutions-based impact and advocacy for our profession.
“The work of communicators and creatives continues to play an increasingly vital role in this era of college sports, uniquely supporting student-athletes, institutions and campus communities. I look forward to working alongside our leadership groups and nearly 5,000 members as we continue to advance and evolve the future of our profession together."
“Congratulations and welcome to our newly elected Board of Directors for 2026-27,” said CSC Executive Director
Jason Yaman. “Our organization will be well served by the expertise, vision and commitment to advancing our profession from this group. They will be instrumental in furthering our organization as we support and elevate our membership.”
Also advancing in her presidential rotation position to serve the organization for the 2026-27 academic year is First Vice President
Katie Gonzales, Illinois Wesleyan University assistant AD - athletic communications. Baylor University Associate AD, Communications
Brent Ingram, who was appointed by the CSC Executive Board of Directors in August to fill a vacancy as Third Vice President for 2025-26, has been elected for a full term and will advance and serve as Second Vice President in 2026-27.
Approved to serve as CSC’s Third Vice President is
Daniel Ruede, Sacred Heart University associate athletic director, athletic communications. Ruede previously served on the CSC Executive Board of Directors as a College Division Representative for a three-year term from the academic years of 2020-21 through 2022-23.
Jeff Hodges, athletics historian at the University of North Alabama, continues as secretary of the organization and completes the slate of officers. Hodges has held the secretary position on the Executive Board since 2002-03.
Joining the executive board as the At-Large Representative for a two-year term is
Kristen Keller of UNC Wilmington. Keller recently obtained her new position at UNCW following two years as associate athletic director for sports brands and communications at the University of Southern California. Keller has athletics communications experience at multiple divisions, also having worked at UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Chicago, Concordia Chicago and Trinity Christian.
Returning for her final year as College Division Representative is
Katie Mucci, associate director of NCAA Division II governance and member services at the NCAA National Office.
The 2026-27 Executive Board of Directors take effect at the conclusion of the CSC Unite 2026 convention, which will be held June 7-10 at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas in conjunction with NACDA & Affiliates Week.
The executive board of directors is supported by the CSC advisory council which features chairs from each of seven cabinets including NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, two-year colleges, Canadian institutions, and Past Presidents.
The slate of 2026-27 second vice president, third vice president and at-large representative executive board candidates was nominated by the membership during the spring of 2026 and was recommended by the CSC Nominating Committee, which includes the organization's past presidents and outgoing Executive Board of Directors members. That committee was chaired by
Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas Alumni associate executive director & chief operating officer, and the immediate CSC past president during 2025-26. Trainor concludes his Executive Board service. CSC also thanks
Travis Jarome of Jackson State for his two years of service on the Board as At-Large Representative.
CSC staff are ex-officio members, including Executive Director
Jason Yaman; Associate Executive Director
Will Roleson; Director of Communications and Brand Strategy
Beau White; and Director of Operations & Professional Development
Becky Griesmer. A national search is underway to fill an open position on the staff for director of creative services.
CSC committee structure updates and new leadership appointments
Effective with the beginning of the 2026-27 membership year, the CSC Executive Board of Directors has approved the following committee leadership updates:
- Academic All-America Hall of Fame® Committee: Ryan Workman of Iowa State has advanced from vice chair to chair. Matt Haufe of Marquette has been selected as the new vice chair.
- CSC U Committee: Filling a vacancy, Sam Viebrock of Clayton State has been selected as the new vice chair.
- Creative & Digital Design Contest Committee and the New Media Committee will merge to form the Creative & Digital Design Committee with Patrick Murphy of Colorado School of Mines and Malloreigh Yingling of Penn State continuing in their roles as chair and vice chair of the new combined committee.
- Inclusion Committee: Hamilton Cook of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has advanced from vice chair to chair. Chad Cooper of Saint Joseph’s (PA) has been selected as the new vice chair.
- Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest Committee: Joe Guistina of Lycoming has advanced from vice chair to chair. A search for the new vice chair is open.
- Goodwill & Wellness Committee: Brian Lovellette of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has advanced from vice chair to chair. Liz Wacienga of NCAA Stats and Media Operations has been selected as the new vice chair.
- Scholarships Committee: Kendra Willard of Auburn has advanced from vice chair to chair. A search for the new vice chair is open.
- Young Professionals Committee: Meredith Mahoney of Illinois Wesleyan has advanced from vice chair to chair. Jordan Modjeski of Saint John’s (MN) has been selected as the new vice chair.
- Nominating Committee: Patrick Crawford will become the immediate past president and assume the role of chair.
CSC is grateful for the service of outgoing chairs
Chris Masters,
Kelsey Whaley,
Scottie Rodgers,
Mike Falk,
Jeremy Rosenthal,
Brian Fremund,
Kristen Keller and
Kevin Trainor.