College Sports Communicators

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

LSU's The Brand | Zach Greenwell & Sarah Ramundt | CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guests: * Zach Greenwell – LSU The Brand, Deputy AD / Chief Strategy Officer * Sarah Ramundt – LSU The Brand, Executive Director of Creative Content This episode explores the strategic unification of LSU’s external athletic units under a single initiative known as "The Brand". Zach Greenwell explains that the project was born from a desire to eliminate professional silos, physically moving diverse teams—including communications, video, and social media—into a shared workspace within Tiger Stadium. Sarah Ramundt discusses her transition to LSU and the philosophy behind her creative process, which focuses on providing deep context to student-athlete stories through video. A central theme of the conversation is the rapid evolution of college athletics due to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), requiring administrators to balance new revenue-driven content with the traditional roles of storytelling and historical preservation. Ultimately, the speakers emphasize that while the medium of communication is changing, the core mission of elevating the institution's identity remains constant. Highlights: * Unified Vision: "The Brand" was created to unify external departments, moving staff from different buildings into a renovated space in Tiger Stadium to foster collaboration. * Creative Inspiration: Sarah Ramundt sources content ideas from personal curiosity and the need to explain complex athletic concepts to a general audience. * The Power of Video: Ramundt describes video as a medium that provides the "context" and "space" around a moment that still photography cannot capture. * NIL Integration: NIL has become a dominant factor in daily operations, influencing how content is created, shared, and used in the recruitment process. * Preserving the SID Role: Greenwell maintains that despite technological shifts, the core values of Sports Information Directors—acting as historians and storytellers—are more vital than ever.

Finding belonging | Jalen Brandy | CSC Voices, Why We Belong

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Host Dawnisha Franklin interviews Jalen Brandy, an athletic communications assistant at Buffalo State University, about belonging in college sports communications. Jalen defines belonging as feeling meant to be in an industry, discusses personal buy-in to the long, unorthodox sports schedule, and explains professionally adapting to different teams and keeping creativity alive. He shares challenges shifting from a public relations agency mindset and fan perspective to a broader, stakeholder-focused approach. Jalen describes how being a person of color in predominantly white spaces shaped his ability to navigate discomfort and make his voice respected, motivating his move from corporate PR to the college sports world. He highlights Buffalo State’s diverse culture, ways he signals representation through social media and writing, hopes to create a support group for athletes of color, values relationships with student-athletes, and advises listeners to trust their gut when making career changes.   00:00 Meet Jalen Brandy 00:44 What Belonging Means 01:59 Personal vs Professional Fit 04:45 Early Challenges Adjusting 08:15 Identity Shaping Career 11:43 Building Campus Engagement 13:35 Leading By Example 15:05 Visibility Through Culture 17:13 DEI Culture And Traditions 20:53 Support Group Vision 23:10 Proud Moments With Athletes 26:31 Trust Your Gut Advice 28:14 Closing Thanks And Wrap