Department Summary:

Drake University is a forward-thinking community of scholars with a focus on active, collaborative learning and applied scholarship. Drake is in Des Moines, Iowa—a vibrant city that is nationally recognized for its quality of life and a wealth of opportunities for professional, social and civic engagement.

A Drake education couples hands-on training in professional skills with a strong liberal arts education. We strive to create a community of scholars that represents the complexity of the human experience in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, gender identification, religion, age and physical abilities. We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all our faculty, staff, students and visitors.

We develop and offer innovative programming serving a variety of audiences, including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as community members, industry professionals, and retirees. The successful applicant will join a collegial, welcoming, energetic and supportive community.

Job Summary:

The Sports Media and Communication Graduate Assistant serves as a liaison between the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the University’s NCAA Division I Athletics Department. This position is designed to provide professional experience for a graduate student while also supporting student success, experiential learning opportunities, and collaborative initiatives that connect academic programs with Drake Athletics.

The Graduate Assistant will help cultivate meaningful partnerships that enhance student learning, career preparation, and engagement in sports media, strategic communication, sports journalism, sports broadcasting, and digital content creation.
Responsibilities will include:

Student Engagement and Academic Support
• Identify and coordinate opportunities for student involvement in athletics-related communication, media production, content creation, marketing, broadcasting, and public relations activities.
• Serve as a mentor and resource for undergraduate students pursuing sports media and communication careers.
• Assist students in identifying experiential learning opportunities within Drake Athletics.
• Support recruitment, retention, and engagement efforts for sports media and communication majors.
• Facilitate networking opportunities between students, alumni, Athletics personnel, and industry professionals.
• Coordinate workshops, panels, and professional development events focused on careers in sports media and communication.
• Support communication and project coordination between SJMC faculty and staff, Athletics staff, and students.

Outreach and Assessment
• Promote sports media and communication opportunities through digital communication channels and outreach efforts.
• Help maintain relationships with alumni and industry partners working in sports media and communication fields.
• Track student participation and outcomes associated with athletics-based experiential learning opportunities.
• Collect and analyze data related to student engagement, experiential learning participation, and partnership effectiveness, and assist with the creation of reports, presentations, and promotional materials highlighting partnership outcomes and student achievements.

Through this assistantship, the Graduate Assistant will:
• Develop leadership and student mentorship skills.
• Gain experience building and managing cross-campus partnerships.
• Strengthen strategic communication and project management competencies.
• Expand professional expertise in sports media and collegiate athletics.
• Build a portfolio of applied work connecting academic programs with a Division I athletics program.

The Graduate Assistant reports to the dean of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication and works closely with designated Athletics Department personnel. Regular collaboration with faculty, staff, coaches, and student leaders is expected.

Compensation
This is an hourly position restricted to no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. Tuition in one of Drake's graduate programs will be provided in accordance with university graduate assistantship policies. To remain eligible, the Graduate Assistant must remain enrolled in at least 9 credits each semester in a Drake University graduate program and remain in good academic standing.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Admission to and enrollment in a Drake University graduate degree program.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, public relations, strategic communication, sports management, media production, or a related field.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management abilities.
• Interest in sports media, athletics communications, athletics productions, and student development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in collegiate athletics, sports media, journalism, broadcasting, strategic communication, marketing, or public relations.
• Experience mentoring or advising undergraduate students.
• Familiarity with NCAA athletics and collegiate sports communication environments.
• Experience with social media, digital content creation, video production, or event coordination.