Kristen Smith is the Assistant Director of Athletic Integrated Communications at The University of Memphis. She graduated from Florida State University in 2020 with a master's degree in Sport Management. Before that, Kristen interned at a variety of organizations, including NBC Sports Group, Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, and the University of Kentucky. She also recently launched her own boutique PR agency, KTS Consulting, where she works with minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
What does a typical day in the life of a college Athletic Director look like? What about for a woman looking to break into the typically male-dominated sports communications industry? Kristen Smith knows firsthand.
Kristen is the Assistant Director of Athletic Integrated Communications at The University of Memphis. However, landing this position wasn’t easy. As she says, women still face their fair share of challenges when entering a career in sports—but, with grit and determination, nothing is impossible. After persisting and landing a job in her dream industry, Kristen is now focused on helping other women and minorities do the same.
In this episode of the Sports Up Podcast, Meredith Syms talks with Kristen Smith, the Assistant Director of Athletic Integrated Communications at The University of Memphis, about what it means to be a woman in the sports communications industry. Kristen discusses why she decided to pursue a career in sports communications, the challenges she faced along the way, and the women who inspired her journey. You don’t want to miss this exciting episode!