Elmira, N.Y. – Elmira College Sports Information Director Briley Lawson has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program, taking place December 6–8 at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Lawson, who was nominated for the program by Elmira College Athletics Director Rhonda Faunce, is one of just 30 athletic communicators from across NCAA Division III selected to participate in this year's program.
Launched in 2024, the Emerging Elite Program is a professional development initiative developed in partnership with the Division III Sports Information Directors Association (D3SIDA) and College Sports Communicators (CSC) to support the next generation of athletics communication leaders across Division III.
"I am extremely honored to have been named to the 2026 Emerging Elite Leadership Program," Lawson states. "This is an amazing opportunity for me to continue my professional development and growth while getting a chance to recognize Elmira on the national stage. I am overly thankful for those who nominated me and my support system that rallies behind me!"
Lawson currently serves as the Sports Information Director at Elmira College, overseeing athletic communications efforts for the 19 Soaring Eagles athletic programs. Her responsibilities include managing the athletics website, coordinating game-day media operations, producing written and digital content, maintaining statistics and records, and promoting the accomplishments of Elmira's student-athletes and coaches.
Before joining Elmira, Lawson served as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Palm Beach Atlantic University and as the Assistant Sports Information Director at the University of the Cumberlands. Her experience across NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA athletics has provided her with a broad perspective on collegiate athletics and the unique opportunities available within each division. Lawson is passionate about mentorship and giving back to the profession that has played an important role in her career. She currently serves as a mentor in the NCAA Division III Mentorship Program, where she enjoys supporting and learning alongside other professionals in the field. She believes strongly in creating opportunities for others, sharing knowledge and experiences, and helping emerging athletics professionals navigate their own career paths.
An active member of College Sports Communicators, Lawson has contributed to the CSC U Committee and Continuing Education Committee, presented on crossover content strategies, and moderated professional development programming. She was also recognized as a 2025 CSC Photographer of the Year finalist.
"Having Briley be selected to represent our institution at the NCAA level is a testament to her tireless work behind the scenes. " Director of Athletics, Rhonda Faunce said. "Sports information is the heartbeat of our athletic department, and this conference is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with the best in the business. This can only make her and EC better!"
Participants will plan to engage in interactive sessions focused on leadership development, managing and growing a team, cross-department collaboration, and navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics communications. The experience includes in-person networking, skill-building workshops, and a one-time complimentary registration to the College Sports Communicators Convention the following June.
The three-day program will bring together 30 selected participants at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, where they will engage in interactive sessions focused on leadership development, managing and growing a team, cross-department collaboration, and navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics communications. The experience includes in-person networking, skill-building workshops, and a one-time complimentary registration to the College Sports Communicators Convention in June of 2027.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Elmira College Athletics, please visit athletics.elmira.edu. Follow us on Twitter - @ECSoaringEagles, Instagram - @ecsoaringeagles, YouTube - @ECSoaringEagles, and Facebook by searching Elmira College Athletics.
