Ripon College Days

Malzia [Click to enlarge]

With energy, fresh ideas and passion, Ripon newcomer Trisha Malizia has assumed control of the athletic fundraising, media relations and sports information position formerly held by Scott Wilson.

With 20 months remaining for the donor-funded position that was created in July 2004, Malizia will build upon foundations established in the first year. She also plans to implement a broad array of original ideas aimed at increasing media attention for the college's athletics and bringing greater funding to the department.

"I have a ton of ideas," says Malizia. "Some of them cost money, and since we don't really have the monetary resources they aren't going to happen right away, but some of the things you will see differences in right away are the website and game-day programs."

She'd also like to increase Ripon's media visibility by creating media guides, continuing to expand the booster club, called the Friends of Ripon Athletics, by holding Fifth Quarter events after football games, adding more game-day events for athletic donors and creating a newsletter. The newsletter, to be titled the Red Hawk Report, could be distributed as early as this year, Malizia says.

Finally, Malizia also plans to make better use of the world wide web by updating the athletics website and utilizing email more frequently as a means by which to keep supporters connected with Ripon's athletic teams.

"Ripon is a great place to be, and I think this is a great opportunity that's been given to me," says Malizia. "I think people will be pleasantly surprised."

Malizia comes to Ripon from Columbia University, where she was associate director of athletics for communications and external affairs. Born and raised in New York City, she earned her bachelor's in public relations from Long Island University and master's in physical education with a concentration in sport management from Brooklyn College.

The position Malizia assumes, now titled associate athletic director for external affairs, has three main components, says Vice President for Advancement Lyn Corder. The first is the sports information component, which involves ensuring NCAA requirements are satisfied. The second is media relations aimed at increasing the exposure of Ripon athletics in state media outlets. The final aspect is fundraising.

"When I got here the main focus that we looked at was getting media attention for athletics. There wasn't a large Ripon College presence in the local media besides maybe the Ripon Commonwealth. Now we have a presence around the state in the media. That was the biggest thing we tried to do," says Wilson, who left the position to become director of media and public relations.

Wilson reports the first year was important in building membership for the Friends of Ripon Athletics. During that year, the athletic banquet was also revived.

The banquet, though arguably one of the most visible fundraising tools, is only one of the elements Malizia will utilize to continue raising revenue for the department.

"I think it will be a challenge, but a challenge I'm up for and a challenge that can certainly be met," she says. "I think there are a ton of untapped resources available; it's just about finding them and utilizing them."

In her fundraising capacity, Malizia will also work to support the position in the future. The post, which was established in July 2004 by a group of donors, will only be donor-funded until summer 2007. By that time the patrons expect the fundraising component of the position to bring in enough monies to create a self-sustaining post.

"Last year raised almost exactly twice as much money as the year before," says Corder. "Beyond that we came very close to what our goal was in the special fund to pay the fourth year program expenses for the position."

Wilson estimates the fundraising efforts for the position's fourth year fell short $15,000. Regardless, all parties express confidence in Malizia's ability to make up the sum this year and next.

"I believe we'll be able to meet the goals for funding the position and after a three-year period I really believe this position is going to be an accepted position and an important position," says Bob Gillespie, director of athletics.

In the meantime Malizia is implementing new strategies to improve the athletic department.

"I'm just really excited," says Gillespie. "I think the potential of the things that can happen are really exciting and I'm very anxious to work with [Malizia] on some of these things."

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