With a new school year getting underway for everyone, the Early Career Professional Advisory Group wants to say “Hi!”

NIRSA’s Early Career Professional Advisory Group is here to help serve emerging professionals who are in years 0-3 of their collegiate recreation careers. We know it can be difficult to transition from a Graduate Assistantship to a new field, because we’ve been there!

The main focus of our volunteer group is to engage newer professionals in the field with resources and networking events, and to present them with the many professional development opportunities that members have throughout NIRSA. We are also here to listen to your voices and act as a liaison to communicate how NIRSA could better serve you and your colleagues.

Join us September 27

Throughout the academic year we will have several virtual and in-person opportunities to connect and hopefully support you in your professional journeys. The first virtual roundtable will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 3:30pm Eastern/12:30, Pacific.

If you can’t wait to join the discussion and you want to learn more about the advisory group, please check out the NIRSA Connect Page and join the Early Career Professionals Community today.

The Early Career Professional Advisory Group hopes everyone has a smooth start to the new academic year and we look forward to getting to know each of you. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or just want to chat with another friendly NIRSA member.

NIRSA’s Early Career Professional Advisory Group

  • Kathleen Langley, Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness, Western Kentucky University
  • Cassidy Sanders-Curry, Assistant to the Executive Team, University of Washington – Seattle Campus
  • Samantha Longo, Coordinator of Athletics Facilities, Pennsylvania State University- Main Campus
  • Haley D’Alessandro, Coordinator of Intramural Recreation & Fitness, University of Houston -Clearlake
  • Julian Baker, Coordinator of Recreational Sports, Pepperdine University
  • Daniel Smith, Campus Recreation Manager, Roanoke College
  • Alexis Gross, Coordinator, Facility Operations & Aquatics at University, Massachusetts Amherst
  • Chris Bullard, Outdoor Program, Senior Coordinator, Portland State University
  • Tim Groth, Aquatics & Safety Manager, University of Delaware
  • Ethan Stencil, Intramural Sports Coordinator, Missouri University of Science & Technology
  • For more information, contact NIRSA Membership and Leadership Director Sarah Leskovec.
NIRSA Profile

Chris Bullard is currently the Outdoor Program, Senior Coordinator at Portland State University and a member of the NIRSA Early Career Professional Advisory Group; you can email him at bullard@pdx.edu.