CSC Members Named To First Class of NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program

CSC Members Named To First Class of NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program

Barb Kowal

Related Content
• Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program (overview)


Division III athletics communication and sports information directors play a critical role on Division III campuses. We are excited to provide another professional development program with the Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program. Our inaugural cohort will have an opportunity to engage with industry experts, and network among their peers.

– Louise McCleary, Vice President of Division III

The inaugural set of 30 participants for the new NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program have been announced by the NCAA Division III Governance staff.

These 30 Division III athletic communicators were selected from all those nominated this fall by their leaders and peers for participation in the program, which takes place December 9-10 at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to the in-person program in Indianapolis, all participants will be able to receive a one-time complimentary registration to the next College Sports Communicators (CSC) UNITE convention, held annually in June.

The programming topics are listed below for the December 9-10 event. The participants will be welcomed by Louise McCleary, NCAA Division III Vice President; Katie Mucci, NCAA Division III Assistant Director; and Will Roleson, CSC Interim Executive Director and Alivia Dieterlen, CSC Assistant Director of Communications and Creative Content.

Throughout 2024, the Division III governance staff worked to create the Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program in partnership with College Sports Communicators staff and D3SIDA and the CSC Division III Cabinet - the leadership group for Division III members within the CSC organization.

The program's goal is to provide professional development and networking opportunities for athletic communicators, particularly those early in their careers seeking to advance to a director-level position or those who have recently become a director. Topics discussed will cover a variety of professional development areas which may include leadership training, networking, positioning yourself to oversee a staff, collaboratiions, culture-building, navigating expanded responsibilities and more. This Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program will be held annually in December in Indianapolis.


Participants in the NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program
 
Name Organization Job Title Conference Affiliation
Antonio Arredondo George Fox University Associate Athletic Director of Sports Information Northwest Conference
Emma Auclair UMass Dartmouth Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Little East Conference
Max Berkowitz Springfield College Assistant AD for Communications New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
Kendall Bukuras Gordon College Director of Athletics Communications/Interim SWA Conference of New England
Austin Byrnes Simpson College Assistant Director of Athletics Communication American Rivers Conference
Andrea Cannon Loras College Director of Athletic Communications American Rivers Conference
Kieran Cantwell California Lutheran University Director of Sports Information Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Madeline Cummings Sewanee- The University of the South Director of Athletic Communications Southern Athletic Association
Tia Day Bates College Coordinator of Athletics Marketing and Promotions New England Small College Athletic Conference
Lauren Dellipoali Massachusetts Institute of Technology Athletics Communications Assistant New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
Christine Fox Moravian University Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Landmark Conference
Walker Froehling Bethany Lutheran College Coordinator of Sports Information Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
Matthew Haufe Elmhurst University Director of Athletic Communications College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin
Michael Hogan St. John Fisher University Athletics Communications Coordinator  Empire 8
Eric Hunt Pennsylvania College of Technology Coordinator of Athletic Communications & Club Sports Intern United East Conference
Bryce Johnson Guilford College Director of Athletic Communications Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Ashleigh Jones DePauw University Associate Director of Athletics Communications North Coast Athletic Conference
Eddie Kerekes Case Western Reserve Univ. Sports Information Director University Athletic Association
Kyle Lancto Skidmore College Associate Director, Athletic Communications and Marketing Liberty League
Meredith Mahoney Illinois Wesleyan University Assistant Director of Athletic Communications College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin
Frank Maira Ithaca College Athletics Communications Coordinator Liberty League
Bryn Mangold Ohio Athletic Conference Assistant Commissioner
Bryan Moore College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Associate Executive Director
Caleb Philips Plattsburgh State University of New York Director of Athletic Communications State University of New York Athletic Conference
Sara Ropski Stevenson University Assistant Athletics Communication Director Middle Atlantic Conferences
Marissa Smego Albion College Sports Information Director Michigan Intercolegiate Athletic Assn.
Braden Smith Nebraska Wesleyan University Director of Athletic Communications American Rivers Conference
Shea Stanton Washington and Jefferson College Sports Information Director Presidents' Athletic Conference
Morgan Vogels Millikin University Assistant AD for Athletic Communications College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin
Paige Ward Berry College Director of Sports Information & Promotions Southern Athletic Association


This year's December agenda includes the following topics:
  • Beyond the Game: Amplifying Your Athletic Brand on Social Media (with Jaelyn Arndt, NCAA Associate Director of Communications-Social Media and Kate Connors, NCAA Assistant Director of Communications-Social Media)
  • Leadership Pizza (coordinated by Ali Spungen, NCAA Division III Goverance Associate Director)
  • A DISC Behavioral Assessment session
  • Lessons from the Experts (with Amie Canfield, University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth/D3SIDA and D3 Cabinet past president; and D3SIDA and D3 Cabinet members Mark Fleming, Moravian University; Brett Marhanka, Wheaton College (IL); and Ali Wilson, American Rivers Conference)
  • Rooted in the Moment: Remaining Present in Your Work (with Division III members Katie Gonzales, Illinois Wesleyan/CSC Executive Board member and D3SIDA/D3 Cabinet 2nd vice president; and Brian Magoffin, Springfield College/D3SIDA and D3 Cabinet 1st vice president)
  • Turning Tension Into Teamwork: Navigating Conflict (with D3SIDA and D3 Cabinet members Pearllan Cipriano, Bard College; Jill Weigel, Neumann University; Drew Wilson, Averett University)
  • Breakfast of Champions: Building a Great Culture (with Mark Trumbo, NCAA Associate Director, Leadership Development)