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List of CSC (CoSIDA) Presidents through the years
“It will be an honor to serve as president of College Sports Communicators. We are an organization that cares deeply about college athletics and the people in it; student-athletes, coaches and administrators. At the same time, we also know that we need to navigate the current communications landscape and address some of our own issues. CSC will continue to make valuable contributions to the success of college athletics."
- John Paquette, 2023-24 CSC President
College Sports College Sports Communicators (CSC) has approved a new slate of executive board of directors to serve the professional athletic communications association of 4,100-plus members for the 2023-24 academic year and beyond. The membership approval took place during CSC’s annual business meeting, held virtually on May 31.
John Paquette, BIG EAST Conference senior associate commissioner, sports media relations, will serve as 2023-24 CSC president. Paquette becomes the 69th president of CSC for a one-year term after holding the first vice president office during this academic year.
“It will be an honor to serve as president of College Sports Communicators,” Paquette said. “We are an organization that cares deeply about college athletics and the people in it; student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Communications professionals play an important role in the overall success of our colleges and universities and their respective athletic departments.
“At the same time, we also know that we need to navigate the current communications landscape and address some of our own issues. CSC will continue to make valuable contributions to the success of college athletics.”
Paquette succeeds 2022-23 CSC President
Jessica Poole, a former Chicago State University senior athletic administrator who is now chief operating officer with the
Minnesota Aurora FC.
Poole will transition to past president for the 2023-24 academic year as she completes her work on the board as an officer. Poole was the first Black woman to hold CSC’s highest membership leadership position.
"Our board plays an important role in providing oversight and leadership for our organization, which encompasses all levels of college sports in the U.S. and Canada," said Erik Christianson, CSC executive director. "I look forward to partnering with John as board president and all board members as we serve our growing membership and continue to live out our new brand as College Sports Communicators."
Also elected to serve the 4,100-member CSC organization for the 2023-24 term and in the presidential rotation are First Vice President
Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas senior associate athletic director/public relations and Second Vice President
Mary Beth Challoner,
University of Toronto director, intercollegiate athletics & high performance sport. In two years, Challoner will become CSC’s first president from a Canadian institution.
Elected May 31st to serve as CSC’s third vice president was
Patrick Crawford, Purdue University associate athletics director for strategic communications.
Jeff Hodges (recently retired from his full-time
University of North Alabama senior associate athletic director for communications role) continues as secretary of the organization and rounds out the officers.
Also elected to serve a full two-year college division position on the board was
Donnie Smith,
Southeastern University assistant athletic director for communications. Smith had been serving a one-year board position during 2022-23 as he filled the position vacated by Challoner when she was elected to her VP role last June (from her prior board spot).
The other returning board member is
J.D. Campbell,
Indiana University senior assistant athletic director for men’s basketball communications and special projects (term expires 2024).
Within CSC’s revamped governance structure, now in its third year, the size of the executive board has been reduced in size as divisional cabinets and advisory councils have been added as part of this new leadership structure.
The slate of 2023-24 third vice president and college division board candidates were nominated by the membership during the spring semester and were selected by the CSC Nominating Committee, comprised of the organization's past presidents and outgoing Board of Director members. That Committee was chaired by
Cindy Potter, Columbia College (Mo.) senior deputy director of athletics & senior women's leader, who served as CSC past president during 2022-23.
Those rotating off the CSC Executive Board include Past President Potter; and
Dan Ruede,
University of New Haven associate director of athletics for strategic communications.
Ex-Officio members are CSC Executive Director
Erik Christianson; Associate Executive Director
Will Roleson; Director of Professional Development & External Affairs
Barb Kowal; Director of Membership Engagement
Laurie Bollig; and Director of Creative Services
Beau White.