Trainor tabbed as 70th President of CSC
College Sports Communicators (CSC) has approved the slate of executive board of directors to serve the 4,400-plus member association of communications professionals for 2024-25. The membership approval took place during CSC’s annual business meeting, held virtually on May 29.
Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas senior associate AD for public relations and former student-athlete engagement, will serve as 2024-25 CSC president. Trainor becomes the 70th president of CSC for a one-year term after holding the office of first vice president during the 2023-24 academic year.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the more than 4,400 members of College Sports Communicators as the 70th president of this storied organization,” Trainor said. “Since its inception, CSC and its members have played a vital role in helping tell the inspiring stories of student-athletes, coaches and administrators throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“Today, CSC and its members continue to evolve to meet the increasing challenges and demands of effective communications in a rapidly changing intercollegiate athletics landscape. At this watershed moment, I am confident that CSC and its membership will once again play an integral role in helping shape the narrative of college athletics in the years to come.”
Trainor succeeds 2023-24 CSC President John Paquette, BIG EAST Conference senior associate commissioner for sports media relations. Paquette will transition to past president for the 2024-25 academic year as he completes his work on the board as an officer.
“Serving on the CSC executive board is the highest level of leadership within our organization,” said Erik Christianson, CSC executive director. “We have an excellent group of seasoned and proven professionals to help guide our growing organization as we embrace our brand and our vision as leaders across all levels in college sports in the U.S. and Canada.”
Also advancing in their presidential rotation positions to serve the organization for the 2024-25 academic year are First Vice President Mary Beth Challoner, University of Toronto director, intercollegiate athletics & high performance sport and Second Vice President Patrick Crawford, Purdue University associate athletics director for strategic communications. Next year, Challoner will become CSC’s first president from a Canadian institution.
Approved May 29th to serve as CSC’s Third Vice President is Matt Panto, Ivy League associate executive director for strategic communications and external relations. Panto is the first member from the Ivy League to serve in the presidential rotation.
Jeff Hodges, athletics historian at the University of North Alabama, continues as secretary of the organization and rounds out the officers.
Joining the executive board as the at-large representative for a two-year term is Travis Jarome, Jackson State University associate athletic director for public relations and sports media. Jarome is the second CSC executive board member from Jackson State, an HBCU, joining Sam Jefferson who served CSC from 1995-98.
Returning for his final year as a college division representative is Donnie Smith, Southeastern University assistant athletic director for communications.
The executive board of directors is supported by the CSC advisory council which features chairs from each of seven cabinets including NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, two-year colleges, Canadian institutions, and Past Presidents.
The slate of 2024-25 third vice president and at-large representative board candidates was nominated by the membership during the spring of 2024 and was selected by the CSC Nominating Committee, which includes the organization’s past presidents and outgoing executive board of directors members. That committee was chaired by Jessica Poole, president/chief operating officer with the Minnesota Aurora FC, and the immediate CSC past president during 2023-24.
Those rotating off the CSC Executive Board include Past President Poole and At-Large Representative J.D. Campbell, former Indiana University senior assistant athletic director for men’s basketball communications and special projects.
Ex-Officio members are CSC staff members, including Executive Director Erik Christianson, Associate Executive Director Will Roleson, Director of Operations & Professional Development Barb Kowal, Director of Communications and Brand Strategy Beau White, and Assistant Director of Communications and Creative Content Alivia Dieterlen.
