College Sports Information Directors of America

by Jessica Poole – 2022-23 College Sports Communicators President  @JessPooleA2
Minnesota Aurora FC, Chief Operations Officer

Well friends, it’s almost “Closing Time” for my term as CSC President and I have so many mixed emotions about it. It’s hard to process but I’m going to try to share how I’m feeling as I head into my final month at the helm of the Executive Board of Directors.

This year has been in two words … AMAZING and HARD. Amazing because it has been a goal of mine for quite some time to lead this organization that has meant so much to me not only professionally but personally. Leading our organization has always seemed like the perfect way for me to give back and show others how special and important our organization and members are to not only college athletics but the entire athletic landscape.

It's been hard for several reasons but maybe most notably because I’ve been forced with some hard decisions both personally and professionally during this presidency — decisions I had no idea were on the horizon when I started this journey as Third VP way back when.

We’ve accomplished so much together this year but none more impressive than the rebrand to College Sports Communicators from CoSIDA. This was a journey started some time ago and to be the person at the helm to see this come full circle has been nothing short of amazing.

As I start to look in the rearview window, I’m reminded of a gift my dear friend Judy Willson gave me the day I took the gavel from my sister Cindy Potter. It was a smiley face box with a notepad of things for me to write down to remember this presidential year. As a past president, Judy wanted me to remember to “stop and smell the roses” throughout the year and it’s something I’ve been consistent with. It has warmed my heart each time I put something in my smiley face box commemorating this year.

This year has been life changing for me on the personal level as well. When I took the gavel I was sitting as the interim AD at Chicago State University and when I pass the gavel to John Paquette I will be passing it as the chief operating officer of Minnesota Aurora FC, a pre-professional women’s soccer team in Minnesota.

Wow … what a difference a year makes!

Taking a job outside the collegiate space was a decision that I didn’t take lightly. It was a decision that I in fact tried not to make because, if I’m being honest, imposter syndrome had a serious hold on me. I was really good at telling other people they had what it took to step out and do something out of their comfort zone, but I struggled to remind myself of that.

It was my dear friend Shevie Brooks, whose husband Donnie Brooks is the athletic director at Macalester University in Minnesota, who said something that made me leap. The Brooks family and I had spent time together at Dartmouth College and they became like family — and now we are literally neighbors.

She reminded me that the most important job I will ever have is to be William’s mom and that is really what changed my thinking.

William has been blessed to be a part of a team since he was first born, he has “brothers and sisters” and “aunties and uncles” across college athletics and CSC and for that I am beyond grateful. I know that me taking on a new role in athletics will allow us a better work-life integration and will also allow us to continue to build community through athletics while also giving me time to watch him play sports and maybe even coach a team or two. :)

This year has been a once and a lifetime opportunity for me on so many fronts and I thank you all for letting me lead you. I can’t wait to see you all in Orlando!

Jess