General | 10/20/2026 12:32:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio – As announced by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), Oberlin College Assistant Director of Athletics Communications, Sophia Anderson has been selected to the 2026 Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program.
 
"I am incredibly humbled to be selected for the third class of the Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program. I'm looking forward to learning from industry leaders and building lasting connections with communicators from across Division III." Anderson continued, "I'd like to extend my gratitude to Natalie Winkelfoos, Amanda Phillips, and Oberlin College Athletics for the opportunity to grow as a professional and continue to elevate the Division III experience."
 
Launched in 2024, the Emerging Elite Program is a professional development initiative held at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. Developed in partnership with D3SIDA and College Sports Communicators (CSC), the program supports the advancement of the next generation of athletics communication leaders in Division III.
 
Anderson is the sole selection from the North Coast Athletic Conference, and one of just 30 athletics communicators across the country selected for this program this year.
 
Since joining the Crimson and Gold in 2025, Anderson serves all 21 of Oberlin's teams and is responsible for more than 50 student employees. She's played a vital role in revitalizing Oberlin's social media platforms and promotional video production, including the direction and production of preseason videos and Wach & Talk episodes. Her content has garnered more than 500,000 views across several digital platforms. On game days, she's responsible for training student statisticians, videographers, content creators, clock operators, and other various roles.
 
Beyond Oberlin, Anderson is a mentor in the 2025-26 CSC Mentorship Program and the 2026 DIII CSC Student Program. She is also a member of both the CSC U and CSC Pride committees.
 
During the three-day program, participants engage in interactive leadership sessions, team-management and collaboration exercises, and discussions on the evolving landscape of athletics communication. The experience also includes in-person networking, skill-building workshops and a registration to the 2027 CSC Convention.
 
"If you've had the pleasure of spending any time with Sophia you know how insanely talented and dedicated she is when it comes to Oberlin Athletics, the scholar-athletes, and the institution as a whole." Director of Athletics Communications and Game Day Operations, Phillips, added, "She takes so much pride in her work and is constantly raising the bar for what's possible in the athletics communications industry. We've always known she is elite and I'm ecstatic the rest of the country gets to see that too."
 
Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.