Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Honors Awards Visibility
Professional Highlights
Community Service
Timeline
Generic

GAIL E. DENT

Indianapolis

Summary

A strategic, results-oriented leader with the ability to plan, develop, implement and bring an initiative/project to fruition. An experienced and effective communicator with wins in pitching stories, writing stories and developing stakeholder relationships to positively impact an organization's narrative. Has extensive experience with issues and national media management and training, executive communications, corporate social responsibility and goal setting.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience

Work History

Adjunct Professor/Advisory Board Member

UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
- Current
  • Educates graduate students in the sports management program; promotes the program through university print, video and in-person platforms
  • Creates educational content for delivery to graduate students that prepares them for careers in higher education and the sports industries
  • Meets twice a year as a member of the Kinesiology Leadership Advisory Board, which also includes local sports and business officials, to provide curriculum feedback
  • An invited speaker to classes and forums
  • Was an invited speaker at ACC school Virginia Tech in April
  • Collaborates with faculty and students on projects that coincide with athletics research needs.

Associate Director of External Communications

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
01.2002 - Current
  • Develops strategic plans and targeted messaging around national issues; counsels NCAA president, executives, and collegiate senior officials to deliver position/media statements which tell the Association story, direction or decision(s); directs NCAA diversity and inclusion communications and various strategies; directs public relations for NCAA corporate communications, select championships, student-athlete leadership development programs and community endeavors; develops relationships with key constituents for positive impact; provides proactive/reactive media training; writes feature stories and develops strategic social/digital messaging and topic positioning on NCAA platforms; has created video scripting and event run-of-show resources; one of the leaders for the Communications Division’s postgraduate internship program, working in conjunction with human resources and leadership development staffs
  • Has supervised, mentored, and conducted performance indicators and reviews on office interns
  • Has also provided leadership and guidance to executive and administrative assistants for department projects.
  • Has been a member of an executive vice president's leadership team, which included human resources. Developed strategic messaging and provided historical guidance for communications impact.
  • Assisted with the development of the Office of Inclusion’s Strategic Priorities Plan
  • Worked the ideation of “Become a National Voice” to implementation and success, generating first-time national media placements
  • Has also provided recommendations for the External Engagement unit’s strategic vision and planning
  • Created cover features with media content development for NCAA presidents and executives in Diverse Issues in Higher Education
  • Created an inaugural quarterly column feature in Diverse Issues in Higher Education that provides college/university officials and NCAA staff with visibility and messaging sharing opportunities
  • Has developed and reviewed executive speeches for public and membership presentations, including NCAA sponsorship presentations, convention messaging and media projects
  • Also crafts executive quotations in national media releases for public distribution, to include corporate and issues initiatives
  • Has been a vocal participant in NCAA governance and issues meetings that included mid- to senior-level titles and NCAA membership participation
  • Has also participated in committee meeting prep sessions to better understand issues and national office direction
  • Provides meeting updates and summaries to senior officials, as needed
  • Directed media plans and assisted with senior leadership engagements with local organizations, diverse business groups and various constituents to include NCAA Final Four Restoration Programs, Cultural Legacy Awards, Inclusion Forum, NACDA presentations, and various championship activities
  • Has secured NCAA funding (development pitches) for various community projects and initiatives
  • Directed a project team that created a public display board in the NCAA Hall of Champions for Super Bowl 2012
  • Also has directed project teams involving employee engagement group celebrations, and organized and moderated speaking panels resulting in successful NCAA staff participation.

Assistant Director of Public Relations

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
01.2001 - 01.2002
  • Successfully pitched the CBS Morning Show to get the NCAA Woman of the Year, one of the highest honors for collegiate athletes, on the show. First and only time any staff has done this.
  • Directed media relations for the NCAA Woman of the Year annual program, including local media pitches for community outreach efforts.
  • Coordinated a first-time NCAA national deskside visit tour to ABC, NBC and CBS in New York, touting NCAA messages and networking for future outreach.
  • Created press releases and networked with NCAA Foundation (later Leadership Advisory Board) members to secure media support for student-athlete educational programs.

Manager of Public Relations Programs

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
01.2000 - 01.2001
  • Directed public and media relations for USOPC governance meetings, providing messaging and counsel to spokespeople and executives
  • Also, directed media relations for the sports medicine and science departments, which included technology and health-related topics, the U.S
  • Training centers (with staff collaboration), corporate relations, community relations events and DEI programs, Paralympic initiatives, and facilitated onsite training center national/international media visits
  • Directed the media staff operations for the U.S
  • Delegation at the 1999 World University Games (Spain); assisted with media operations for the U.S
  • Delegation at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games (Japan); the 1997 World University Games (Italy); the 2000 Olympic Games (Australia); and Washington, D.C
  • White House visits
  • Facilitated media requests and athlete appearances at the USOPC Media Summits, high profile USOPC Team Processing Centers prior to Olympic, Paralympic and World University games, and coordinated media initiatives with the Champions In Life Olympic and Paralympic community outreach program
  • Directed the division’s internship program, to include selection, supervision, and evaluation
  • Worked directly with Human Resources staff on the program’s development, publicity, and growth opportunities.

Assistant Director of Media and Public Relations

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
01.1997 - 01.2000
  • Directed public and media relations for USOPC governance meetings, providing messaging and counsel to spokespeople and executives
  • Also, directed media relations for the sports medicine and science departments, which included technology and health-related topics, the U.S
  • Training centers (with staff collaboration), corporate relations, community relations events and DEI programs, Paralympic initiatives, and facilitated onsite training center national/international media visits
  • Directed the media staff operations for the U.S
  • Delegation at the 1999 World University Games (Spain); assisted with media operations for the U.S
  • Delegation at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games (Japan); the 1997 World University Games (Italy); the 2000 Olympic Games (Australia); and Washington, D.C
  • White House visits
  • Facilitated media requests and athlete appearances at the USOPC Media Summits, high profile USOPC Team Processing Centers prior to Olympic, Paralympic and World University games, and coordinated media initiatives with the Champions In Life Olympic and Paralympic community outreach program
  • Directed the division’s internship program, to include selection, supervision, and evaluation
  • Worked directly with Human Resources staff on the program’s development, publicity, and growth opportunities.

Assistant Director of Sports Information

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION
01.1990 - 01.1997
  • Was the UK host site director of communications for various Southeastern Conference and NCAA championships; directed media and game management for several non-revenue sports; was the secondary SID for football; coordinated Head Football Coach Bill Curry interviews; assisted UK athletes/coach at SEC Media Days
  • Attended university-wide departmental public relations meetings, connecting athletics initiatives to university, education and community goals and brand efforts
  • Delivered the athletics updates at the university sessions
  • Directed media operations as the host site media coordinator for an estimated 450 national media at the 1994 NCAA First/Second Round Men’s Basketball Tournament in Lexington; assisted in the direction of media operations for an estimated 300 national media at the 1992 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional in Lexington
  • Producer of a weekly on-air, drive time radio show at WJMM called “Inside UK Sports” that informed the community of UK activities and initiatives; was also a member of the Lyman T
  • Johnson Diversity Leadership Program, providing strategic feedback and guidance for the annual dinner and other inclusive/diverse campus initiatives.

Sports Information Assistant

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION
01.1988 - 01.1990
  • Was the UK host site director of communications for various Southeastern Conference and NCAA championships; directed media and game management for several non-revenue sports; was the secondary SID for football; coordinated Head Football Coach Bill Curry interviews; assisted UK athletes/coach at SEC Media Days
  • Attended university-wide departmental public relations meetings, connecting athletics initiatives to university, education and community goals and brand efforts
  • Delivered the athletics updates at the university sessions
  • Directed media operations as the host site media coordinator for an estimated 450 national media at the 1994 NCAA First/Second Round Men’s Basketball Tournament in Lexington; assisted in the direction of media operations for an estimated 300 national media at the 1992 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional in Lexington
  • Producer of a weekly on-air, drive time radio show at WJMM called “Inside UK Sports” that informed the community of UK activities and initiatives; was also a member of the Lyman T
  • Johnson Diversity Leadership Program, providing strategic feedback and guidance for the annual dinner and other inclusive/diverse campus initiatives.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Public Relations (Dept. of Mass Communications)

Eastern Kentucky University

Master of Science - Sports Administration (Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Promotion)

University of Kentucky

Certificate - Diversity and Inclusion

eCornell University (Industrial Labor Relations School/Human Resources Studies)

Skills

    A strategic thinker who can develop and implement organizational plans from beginning to end

Honors Awards Visibility

  • Named Employee of the Month twice at the NCAA national office (500-plus employees)
  • Selected by an NCAA colleague for a communications division honor created by the senior vice president. Was the first to be honored in the PR unit
  • Profiled by UK’s Department of Education: [link]
  • Invited to speak to classes and the Blue Ridge PRSA group at Virginia Tech University 2023: [link]
  • Profiled in the April 2022 issue of PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics monthly publication: [link]
  • Profiled in CoSIDA’s 2021 CoSIDA360 magazine: [link]
  • Profiled in the June 2021 issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education: [link]
  • A speaker at Rowan University’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day in 2021
  • Profiled in Eastern Kentucky University’s Spring 2020 alumni magazine: [link], Feature Friday: [link], and its alumni Spotlight Series: [link]
  • Provided a 2013 written commentary for PRSA’s PRSay on championing diversity
  • Profiled in the April 2012 issue of PRSA’s On the Case feature
  • Received numerous College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) awards for publications at the University of Kentucky

Professional Highlights

  • Was a member of the NCAA executive vice president of inclusion and human resources’ senior leadership team, providing guidance and counsel on Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and strategies.
  • Has strategically solved problems and assessed risks around potential media issues and operational matters. Has also identified issues and provided recommendations to senior management for efficiency in a timely manner.
  • Has been a leader and voice on both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament Working Groups, and other NCAA championship teams, providing recommendations and my experience to improve teamwork.
  • Has worked with NCAA presidents and senior executives to provide counsel, direction and analytical/measurement viewpoints on media and other internal/external initiatives.
  • Has a sound working knowledge of NCAA business, having worked with nearly every department/division during my tenure. Has also worked with NCAA business partners and Association-wide committees providing counsel and public relations support, aligning strategic vision, and delivering progress updates on initiatives.
  • Has worked with numerous national, international, and high-profile media to help tell organizational stories for company positioning, branding efforts and content sharing.
  • Has collaborated with national and global companies to further sponsorships and public relations in producing win-wins for the organization (NCAA, USOPC) and for the partner sponsor.
  • Collaborates and strategizes with NCAA broadcast network partners, which includes ESPN, CBS Sports, Warner Brothers Discovery Sports, along with others. Also, reviews corporate sponsor business activations and concepts for accuracy and to resolve potential conflicts.

Community Service

  • City of Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation, board member; and has interacted via community relations with the Police Athletic League
  • Public Relations Society of America, general member and executive committee member of its Entertainment and Sports section (has also been asked to develop diversity/inclusion initiatives); Corporate Communications section member; past member of Counselors of Higher Education and the PRSA Diversity Committee
  • National Coalition of 100 Black Women, general member and a board chair for public relations efforts
  • Dress for Success Indianapolis, leadership board member and public relations chair
  • Indianapolis Dayspring Homeless Shelter, board member
  • National Association of Black Journalists, general member and Sports Task Force member
  • U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Project GOLD, invited participant
  • St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, senior warden, vestry board member

Timeline

Associate Director of External Communications

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
01.2002 - Current

Assistant Director of Public Relations

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
01.2001 - 01.2002

Manager of Public Relations Programs

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
01.2000 - 01.2001

Assistant Director of Media and Public Relations

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
01.1997 - 01.2000

Assistant Director of Sports Information

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION
01.1990 - 01.1997

Sports Information Assistant

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION
01.1988 - 01.1990

Adjunct Professor/Advisory Board Member

UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
- Current

Bachelor of Arts - Public Relations (Dept. of Mass Communications)

Eastern Kentucky University

Master of Science - Sports Administration (Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Promotion)

University of Kentucky

Certificate - Diversity and Inclusion

eCornell University (Industrial Labor Relations School/Human Resources Studies)
GAIL E. DENT