The Heart of America Athletic Conference names Park Athletics the 2024-25 Heart Sports Information Staff of the Year.
In a conference full of talented and respected sports information directors across all of small college athletics, Jordan Brown and Nathalia Harth came away with this high honor. The Heart Sports Information Director or Staff of the Year is an award voted on annually by all member sports information directors, each school gets one vote. Each institution has their choice of announcing as Sports Information Director of the Year or Sports Information Staff of the Year, but only one representative will move on in the National voting for NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year. This year, Jordan Brown is the Heart's NAIA SID of the Year nominee, to be announced September 15.
One of the nominators submitted this statement on behalf of Jordan and staff, "Park's social media content and interactions is really great, a lot of good variety between graphics, action shots and videos that highlight all of their sports in a positive way. It seems like the department mixes in well with the university side of things and supports their online presence and values as well."
Brown began his career at Park in January 2020 as an assistant sports communications coordinator and moved into the head sports information director seat in August 2021. He is motivated to love and serve others like the Lord Jesus Christ in his professional role. "It's never been a goal of mine to be Heart sports information director of the year, only to be faithful where I've been placed by God," said Brown. "To be recognized among my other well-deserving peers in the conference is something I don't take for granted and to hear the news from Tyler Price, my predecessor and a key mentor over the years, was a special moment."
Harth began her time as Park's Sports Information Graduate Assistant in August 2022 and completed her MBA in May. Hailing from Brazil, she brought high-level creativity and strategy to the department that immensely impacted the student-athlete experience in positive ways, including spearheading initiatives to recognize and celebrate international student-athletes. "Coming from a country where college sports don't exist, working in the Sports Information Department at Park was a dream come true.” She remains at Park and began a full-time role as Enrollment Marketing Coordinator this summer. “My time as the Sports Information GA has made me even more passionate about continuing a professional path in higher education," she says. "I'm so grateful for everything I've learned and for the amazing people I've met. This is truly a special team.”
It's now the pleasure of Park Athletics to introduce the dream team that makes it happen behind the scenes on game day. Each team member has different capacities with Park, but each person has made meaningful impact within our sports information department for student-athletes and families. Tap the image to meet some of our team. This is not an exhaustive list, as so many individuals come together to contribute to the department. Thank you to all who help make the best possible experience for our students and fans.
