BOSTON – America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen announced today staff changes ahead of the 2017-18 academic year, including the hiring of Jessica Ramberg as Director of Strategic Media. Additionally, Kate Bergstrom has been promoted to Director of Engagement and Championships and Shonna Brown is now Deputy Commissioner.
“During the interview process, our staff was impressed with Jessica's technical skills and ideas for future growth on social and digital,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. "Her depth of creative and multimedia skills will be an asset for the America East and her experience as a former Division I student-athlete will certainly aid in her ability to tell the #3Pillars story on behalf of our student-athletes. Jessica is a rising star and we're thrilled to add her to our team.”
Ramberg comes to America East from the NCAA where she served as a postgraduate digital communications intern during the 2016-17 academic year. There, she influenced brand messaging through various platforms by creating content at select NCAA championships and implementing the use of motion graphics to social, web and video content. A graduate of University of Minnesota where she was an All-American diver, Ramberg was a communications assistant in Minnesota's athletic communications office as well as a production assistant for Gopher Digital Productions.
In her new role, Ramberg will develop, lead and execute America East's strategic communications plan across traditional, social and digital media platforms to further expand the conference's brand, presence and exposure. She will also coordinate communications, branding and marketing initiatives through championships, corporate partners and other external opportunities amongst other duties. Ramberg will begin at America East on July 10.
"I'm humbled to be selected as the conference's new Director of Strategic Media and excited to support the staff and membership in their goal of building the complete student-athlete,” said Ramberg. “I look forward to contributing to the league's strategy through social media, digital and multimedia content."
Bergstrom, the Assistant Director for Administration for past two years, has steadily assumed leadership of many of the conference's engagement initiatives, including You Can Play and LGBT SportSafe, health and safety and the #AEFoodFrenzy. She is also the primary liaison to the Student-Athlete Engagement and SAAC committees and plays an integral role in the conference's business operations.
Brown has been with the conference since 2010 rising from Associate Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner over that time. She oversees all aspects of the conference's internal operations, including the budget, human resources and strategic planning and is the primary administrator for women's basketball. Brown has also been active in the NCAA governance structure. She is currently the conference's representative to the Division I Council, while also serving on the Council Coordination Committee and Competition Oversight Committee. She is finishing up participation in the NCAA Pathway program, a professional development program aimed at elevating senior-level administrators.