BOSTON – America East Commissioner Brad Walker announced today a pair of moves that strengthen the conference office staff ahead of the 2022-23 academic year. Kaleigh Putnam has been hired as Assistant Director, Content & Administration and Sierra Whitlock has been promoted to Associate Director, Championships & Operations.
 
Putnam joins America East after completing a stint as an athletic administration graduate associate at Springfield College. There, she worked in operations, event management, gameday experience and oversaw the student worker staff. Putnam also oversaw all aspects Springfield’s Annual Golf Classic including planning, execution and fundraising. Prior to Springfield, Putnam served as an intern at Connecticut College and America East, where she assisted in communications, championships and internal operations during the fall of 2019. Putnam earned her bachelor’s degree in 2020 from Endicott College, where she was an all-conference basketball standout.
 
“I am so excited to take the next step in my career with the America East Conference,” said Putnam. “It’s a great feeling to be back as a full-time staff member after starting here as an intern. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to continue my career in athletics and help contribute to bettering the experience for America East student-athletes.”
 
At America East, Putnam will serve as a member of the conference’s Content Team, serving as the primary communications contact in select sports, providing project support and assisting in the development and execution of the overall content strategy. She will also provide general support in sports administration, championships and internal operation.
 
“We are excited to welcome Kaleigh back to America East, now as a full-time staff member,” said Walker. “Her skills, experience and personality paired with her familiarity with our operation and staff make her a great fit.”
 
Whitlock is being promoted after serving one year as Assistant Director, Championships & Operations. With her promotion, Whitlock will receive increased oversight of several programs, including conference awards and certain student-athlete engagement initiatives. Additionally, she will directly oversee four sports and coordinate those championships as well as assist with others.
 
“Sierra has made a measurable impact on our staff in just a short time and is very much deserving of this promotion,” said Walker. “We are excited to continue to see her continued professional growth and contributions to our operation.”
 
With these transactions, the 2022-23 America East Conference staff is officially set.

2022-23 America East Conference Staff
Brad Walker – Commissioner
Kate Bergstrom – Senior Associate Commissioner, Internal Operations
Matt Bourque – Senior Associate Commissioner, Broadcast Media & Partnerships
Bridgette Cahill – Senior Associate Commissioner, Regulatory Affairs
Chad Dwyer – Senior Associate Commissioner, Championships & Sport Policy
Sean Tainsh – Senior Associate Commissioner, Content Strategy
Ben Stockwell – Director, Communications & Digital Media
Cayla Fernandes – Associate Director, Creative Services & Digital Media
Sierra Whitlock – Associate Director, Championships & Operations
Kaleigh Putnam – Assistant Director, Content & Administration
Marsha Florio – Executive Director, Academic Consortium
Valerie Moyer – Project Coordinator, Academic Consortium

“We are excited to be fully staffed heading into the new academic year,” said Walker. “Our staff is a talented group of individuals who are collectively committed to providing exceptional service to our member institutions and collaborating with them to advance the America East Conference forward.”

Visit the full directory at AmericaEast.com for staff bios and description of primary areas of responsibilities.

About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.