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CSCommunicators.com/CelebrateCSC
This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CSC membership during the celebration of College Sports Communicators Membership Appreciation Week for 2022-23. See more features at CSCommunicators.com/CelebrateCSC.
Alyssa Shannon – West Coast Conference, Assistant Director, Communications and Creative Services
by Rob Knox – Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Senior Director of Strategic Communications
CSC Past President (2018-19) // CSC Membership Recognition Committee
Alyssa Shannon just started as the Assistant Director of Communications and Creative Services for the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference, located in San Mateo, California.
It’s not the only recent major pivot in Shannon’s life, as the former All-Conference CSU-Bakersfield women’s basketball standout gave birth in September to her son, Kingston.
Shannon has worked in athletic communications since she graduated from CSU-Bakersfield in 2015 with a communications degree. In 2017, she added a master’s degree in public administration, also from CSUB.
“I am so excited for this next phase in my life,” Shannon said. “I love being a mommy and am looking forward to the challenge of balancing my career and family life. My son is my why and what drives me to be better personally and professionally.”
After working as an athletic communications graduate assistant for two years at CSU-Bakersfield where she provided color commentary during women’s basketball broadcasts, Shannon’s journey took her across the country to the American Athletic Conference to serve a communications internship, and eventually back home to Bakersfield, where she worked from 2018 until this past December as an assistant sports information director.
She received one of six inaugural 2017 NCAA Inclusion CoSIDA Convention Grant recipients and was one of two Division I recipients nationwide to receive the opportunity to attend the Orlando convention with the special funding.
Shannon with Rob Knox, past CSC president, at the 2017 convention where Shannon was a NCAA Inclusion CoSIDA Convention Grant recipient in the program’s first year of existence.
In what ways do you believe you benefited from the NCAA Minority Grant to attend the CoSIDA Convention in 2017? How did it boost your career and/or help you want to remain in the profession?
AS: The NCAA Minority Grant allowed me to attend my first (and only) Convention in 2017. It was really the catalyst that boosted my career in that I was able to interview in-person for a position at The American. Without the grant, I may not have gotten my first full-time job in the profession.
What advice can you give young and new content creators/athletics communications professionals as they pursue this career?
AS: Connect with a mentor early on - that is what I would advise young and new content creators/athletics comms professionals to do. It was very beneficial to have experienced individuals, like yourself Rob, in my support circle to keep me grounded/focused in this career.
Shannon served an internship at the America Athletic Conference (in Providence, RI), beginning in the summer of 2017.
You moved to the East Coast for the first time when you took the American Athletic Conference job several years ago. What was that experience like for you? What did you learn about taking chances and how scared were you at first?
AS: Taking the job at The American and moving across the country was sort of like going away for college. It was leaving what had been comfortable with my whole life to try and be successful in the uncomfortable. Was I scared? Yes, but I also was excited to build my career and create new experiences away from home. I learned that I did not enjoy the northeast snow, but more importantly, I learned that you can only gain from taking chances on yourself.
You had a successful All-Conference award-winning basketball career at CSU Bakersfield. How do you feel that experience contributed to you being part of the profession and working at a high level? What were skills you learned that translated into what you're doing now?
AS: Having been a student-athlete contributed to my desire to want to work in sports. It also contributed to my work ethic, being able to perform at a high level with multiple things going on in the background. Understanding the student-athlete experience and the game of basketball has translated well in what I am doing now. Women's basketball has been consistently one of the sports I cover at both the conference and institution level.
Personal glance
AS: The 28-year-old Shannon enjoys the ocean which she calls it her “happy place.” A dog lover, Shannon also loves trying well-reviewed food when traveling, watching Netflix, and spending time with her family.
Shannon starred for four seasons (2012-17) as a guard on the Cal State-Bakersfield team, earning All-Western Athletic Conference and All-WAC Defensive Team honors. She finished her career second in CSUB career assists (409) and in games played (122).