College Sports Communicators
College Sports Communicators is the premier membership association for all strategic, creative and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across all levels for colleges, universities and conferences across the United States and Canada.
CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development/education, recognition and advocacy for its 4,400 members.
Founded in 1957 as the College Sports Information Directors of America, the organization rebranded in 2022 to position itself as a more inclusive organization for communicators in all types of roles and to lead an industry change where strategic and creative professionals are more aligned.
CSC’s signature work includes the annual CSC Unite convention each June and the administration of the prestigious Academic All-America® program and Hall of Fame. Since 1952, more than 42,000 of the world’s most elite student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-America status in all sports.
College Sports Communicators
Belonging, Representation, and Building Pride | Pearllan Cipriano | CSC Voices Why We Belong
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CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee
Belonging, Representation, and Building Pride
Host Dawnisha Franklin interviews Pearllan Cipriano, sports information director at Bard College, about her path into athletic communications, her understanding of belonging, and her advocacy work. Pearl describes belonging professionally as trust and confidence from administrators and coaches, and personally as feeling supported and able to be her authentic self as an Asian, bisexual, international woman. She discusses challenges in a male-dominated field, being misjudged for looking young, and the added pressure of H-1B sponsorship requirements. Pearl shares that Bard’s support, LGBTQ+ colleagues, and chosen family helped her feel at home, and explains how research, CSC connections, and grants helped her navigate barriers. She highlights inclusive storytelling, heritage-month features, theme games, and campus collaborations, and co-founding CSC Pride in 2024 to create a safe space, education, and resources. Her message: don’t shrink yourself to belong.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:16 Pearl Career Journey
01:20 Defining Belonging
01:31 Identity and Barriers
03:42 Finding Belonging Moments
05:02 Navigating Sponsorship and Bias
06:47 Supporting Student Identity Groups
08:26 Mentors and Leadership Style
10:11 Launching CSC Pride
12:34 Campus Impact and Inclusion Wins
14:47 Proudest Moments in the Work
16:04 Events That Build Belonging
17:55 Resources to Add Next
18:41 Final Advice and Closing
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