LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Denison University Director of Athletics Communications Ashleigh Jones received a 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Rising Star Award – College Division during the CSC’s annual convention, CSC Unite 26, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. The convention is held in conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week.
Now in her sixth year in the profession, Jones became Denison’s Director of Athletics Communications in January 2025. She leads an office of three professionals that chronicle the Big Reds’ 24 NCAA Division III programs. She has been an integral component of the planning and coordination for Denison’s inaugural season of varsity water polo in 2027.
Jones earned her first leadership position after spending five years (2019-2024) as associate director of athletic communications at DePauw University. At DePauw, Jones managed the Tigers’ student assistants and advised the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Diverse Athletic Association. In 2020, she developed a semester-long on-campus internship with the DePauw Media Fellows program that introduced more students to athletic communications.
This is not Jones’ first rising star award. In 2023, Jones received DePauw’s inaugural Rising Star Award, an honor selected by members of the university’s cabinet. That same year, Jones was selected to the Learfield EDGE Academy cohort.
In 2024, Jones was selected for the inaugural cohort for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program.
Prior to her arrival at DePauw, Jones spent one year (2017-18) as a sports information graduate at North Central College in Illinois.
Jones graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 2014 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in communications. She earned a Master’s of leadership, with an emphasis in sports leadership, from North Central College in 2018.
