"We get to do this" | Matt Panto | CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard

"We get to do this" | Matt Panto | CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guest:  • Matt Panto – 2026-27 CSC President Ivy League, Associate Executive Director, Strategic Communications & External Relations College Sports Communicators 2026-27 President Matt Panto shares insights on his career journey, leadership philosophy, and strategic vision for the organization. After entering athletic administration through an internship at Lafayette College, Panto has built a 13-year tenure at the Ivy League conference office, where he serves as Associate Executive Director. * Accidental Career Entry: Panto discovered his passion for sports administration during a college marketing project, turning an internship at Lafayette College into a long-term career. * Instinctive Storytelling: He champions continuous evolution over static routines, advising media teams to let authentic moments and gut instincts dictate content creation. * Unifying Creatives and Communicators: Panto stresses breaking down silos between content creators and traditional public relations staff, noting that both roles serve as key storytellers and brand stewards. * CSC Leadership Vision: As CSC President, he promotes a "we get to do this" mindset, aiming to highlight member accomplishments while proactively addressing industry challenges like standardized athlete eligibility reporting. Panto also emphasizes that industry challenges remain solvable through active collaboration, continuous learning, and maintaining perspective on the privilege of working in college athletics.

Autism Acceptance, Belonging, and Thriving in College Sports | Allison Hogue | CSC Voices Why We Belong

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Autism Acceptance, Belonging and Thriving Bridget Nash interviews Allison Hogue, assistant director of athletic communications at Alfred University, about belonging, autism awareness, and her path in college sports communications. Hogue shares being diagnosed with autism around age four, attending special education and a school for learning differences, and initially feeling uncomfortable disclosing her autism. In 2020, she connected with AJ O’Hagan, began openly sharing her journey, and became co-captain of Team Autism Awareness and Acceptance for the College Sports Communicators Fitness Challenge; the group later hosted an autism awareness panel at the Orlando convention and formed a committee that includes people with various learning differences and allies. Hogue discusses mentorship at Liberty University, her pride in covering Sacred Heart women’s basketball’s NCAA tournament run, advocating for accommodations, and supporting student-athlete mental health resources. She closes by encouraging listeners to be themselves, pursue goals despite disability, and not let others’ opinions define their journey. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions  00:31 Allison’s Journey Across States  01:10 Defining Belonging Through Autism  03:16 Finding Community in CSC  05:08 Creating Belonging for Athletes  07:03 Mentors Who Shaped Her Career  10:05 Writing Passion and WNBA Dreams  10:58 Advocacy and Mental Health Support  13:34 Accommodations and Workplace Success  14:46 Career Highlight March Madness Ring  16:39 Final Advice You Belong  19:45 Closing Thanks and Next Episodes

Belonging, Representation, and Building Pride | Pearllan Cipriano | CSC Voices Why We Belong

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Belonging, Representation, and Building Pride Host Dawnisha Franklin interviews Pearllan Cipriano, sports information director at Bard College, about her path into athletic communications, her understanding of belonging, and her advocacy work. Pearl describes belonging professionally as trust and confidence from administrators and coaches, and personally as feeling supported and able to be her authentic self as an Asian, bisexual, international woman. She discusses challenges in a male-dominated field, being misjudged for looking young, and the added pressure of H-1B sponsorship requirements. Pearl shares that Bard’s support, LGBTQ+ colleagues, and chosen family helped her feel at home, and explains how research, CSC connections, and grants helped her navigate barriers. She highlights inclusive storytelling, heritage-month features, theme games, and campus collaborations, and co-founding CSC Pride in 2024 to create a safe space, education, and resources. Her message: don’t shrink yourself to belong.   00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:16 Pearl Career Journey 01:20 Defining Belonging 01:31 Identity and Barriers 03:42 Finding Belonging Moments 05:02 Navigating Sponsorship and Bias 06:47 Supporting Student Identity Groups 08:26 Mentors and Leadership Style 10:11 Launching CSC Pride 12:34 Campus Impact and Inclusion Wins 14:47 Proudest Moments in the Work 16:04 Events That Build Belonging 17:55 Resources to Add Next 18:41 Final Advice and Closing

Comms Background Informs Effective Leadership | Greg Seitz & DeWayne Peevy | CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guests:  • Greg Seitz – Jacksonville State University, Vice President for Athletics • DeWayne Peevy – DePaul University, Senior Vice President & Director of Athletics Recap: This episode examines how backgrounds in sports communications inform effective athletic leadership. Greg Seitz and DeWayne Peevy discuss their respective career paths, emphasizing that skills like clarity, timing, and audience understanding are essential for modern athletic directors. They share strategies for navigating major organizational shifts, such as Jacksonville State’s transition to the FBS level and DePaul’s positioning within the crowded Chicago sports market. Ultimately, the conversation highlights how strategic communication drives institutional alignment, revenue growth, and brand identity. Highlights: * Seitz attributes his 33-year tenure at Jacksonville State to a deep sense of purpose and a strong connection to the local community. * Peevy explains how DePaul embraces its identity as "Chicago’s team" by partnering with professional franchises to differentiate its brand. * Both leaders agree that their communications background allows them to lead with empathy for staff while maintaining high standards for messaging. * Jacksonville State’s move to FBS required transparent communication to manage expectations and build trust among donors and fans. * The guests advise aspiring leaders to master their current craft while proactively learning about budgeting, compliance, and revenue generation.

Balancing Career and Family | Drew Dickerson & Hamilton Cook | CSC Voices Why We Belong

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Balancing College Athletics Careers and Parenting: Support Systems, Schedules, and Being Present Kendrell Watkins hosts the CSC Voices “We Belong” podcast with inclusion committee members Hamilton Cook (MAAC associate commissioner, vice chair) and Drew Dickerson (Atlantic 10 assistant commissioner) to discuss managing family life while working in college athletics. They describe starting their careers with young children, relying on strong support systems (spouses, parents, extended family, neighbors, and colleagues), and adapting to long hours, travel, and constant communication demands. Key challenges include scheduling as children grow older and staying intentional about attending important moments, using technology like FaceTime when travel prevents being there. They share memories of involving kids in the job through Bring Your Child to Workday and tournament help. Their advice to young professionals emphasizes setting boundaries, valuing time with family, communicating, leaning on staff, and remembering most tasks can wait. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:31 Becoming a Dad in Athletics 01:51 Hamilton Early Parenthood 03:01 Drew Starting with Kids 04:05 Kendrell New Dad Reality 05:29 Managing Work Family Demands 09:09 Building a Support Village 13:42 Hardest Part Scheduling 18:51 Missing Moments Staying Present 22:29 Favorite Family Memories at Work 26:47 Does It Get Easier 29:01 Advice for Young Professionals 34:21 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up