TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Kristie Bowers announced the promotion of Sachi Vines to Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications. Vines is currently in her 14^th year with the RPI Athletics Department, serving as the Director of Marketing & Promotions since July of 2010.
 
"Sachi made an immediate impact on me with my arrival at RPI," said Bowers. "She has a deep passion for fostering relationships within our department, community, and the city of Troy. I am eager to see her thrive in this elevated role bringing synergy to two areas of our department that positively influence our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans."
 
In her new role, Vines will oversee the marketing and communications efforts of the athletic department, as well as the box office at both Houston Field House and ECAV Stadium. In addition to those roles, Vines will also oversee the administration of select sports at RPI.
 
In 2018, she was inducted into the RPI Phalanx Honor Society, an honor that recognizes a staff member's commitment to Rensselaer students, received the RPI Dedication and Devotion Award, and was also a member of the Albany Business Review's "40 Under 40".
 
Prior to coming to Rensselaer, the Hacienda Heights, Calif., native spent 18 months as the owner and president of Kuulture of America Incorporated, a health inspired frozen yogurt company. Among her responsibilities was overseeing the daily operations of the business, including accounting, staff management, product inventory and marketing. Additionally, she spearheaded the company's grand opening and maximized the business's exposure through various charities and local events.
 
Prior to her work with Kuulture, Vines served as an account executive with various professional sports teams. From 2006 to 2009 she worked for the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche organizations as an account executive in the Season and Group Ticket Sales Department. She was first in season ticket sales for the Avalanche's 2007-08 season.
 
Vines served as an account executive for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2003-06, booking halftime and court-time events for groups and scheduling meetings and tours of the Staples Center to potential individual and corporate clients. In addition, Vines sold event suites, group tickets and all-season ticket packages while increasing sales by over $25,000 in just her first three months with the organization.
 
Vines began her career working for Washington Sports and Entertainment/MCI Center, where she acted as the marketing point person for the MCI Center and the Patriot Center for the NBA's Washington Wizards and the WNBA's Washington Mystics for two years. She also served as the marketing facilitator for the Georgetown University men's basketball team.
 
From 1996-00, Vines was an undergraduate at the University of Denver, where she was a four-year standout on the gymnastics team. A captain in her senior season, she was ranked 18th nationally as an individual gymnast, while the team was ranked 15th in the nation in 2000. A two-time team Most Valuable Player, Vines was also a two-time Coaches Award for Excellence recipient and the Most Improved Player twice during her career.
 
She graduated from Denver in June 2000, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology.