SPARTANBURG S.C. – The Southern Conference on Monday announced the hiring of three new staff members and the promotion of two others.
Jamie Severns, formerly the Streaming Video and Graphics Coordinator at The Citadel, joins the league office as the Director of Multimedia Services. Caroline Sanker, a decorated cross country and track runner from Davidson, is the league’s Championships/Operations Assistant for the 2009-10 season, and JoAnne Cannell, a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina, takes over the responsibilities as the Media Relations Assistant. Additionally, Jason Yaman has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations and Brandon Neff has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner for Championships.
“Jamie Severns did an outstanding job with The Citadel’s video-streaming efforts and brings a strong graphic design background to our staff,” said league commissioner John Iamarino. “Both Caroline Sanker and JoAnne Cannell are good additions to the staff for the next year.”
Severns, a 2005 graduate of Central Michigan University, comes to the league office from The Citadel where she has served in various capacities for the past three years. Most recently, Severns was the Video and Graphics Coordinator as she was responsible for all video streaming and scoreboard video production at The Citadel while also assisting the media relations and marketing departments in graphic design.
At the Southern Conference, Severns will be responsible for overseeing the conference’s video streaming efforts and for the maintenance and design of the league’s website, SoConSports.com. Severns, who earned an MBA from The Citadel in 2008, will also be the primary information technology consultant for the conference office.
Sanker graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in May, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Originally from Rocky River, Ohio, Sanker was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats in cross country and track, while serving as the captain for the cross country team and as the track team’s representative on the Student Athletic Council.
For her work in the classroom, Sanker was honored as a two-time member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Sanker was an All-Region honoree in 2007 and 2008, finishing in the top 25 in the NCAA Southeastern Regional in both seasons, and she earned All-SoCon distinctions three times in cross country by placing 10th, 2nd and 8th in her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns, respectively, at the Southern Conference championships.
Sanker will assist with the operations of every SoCon championship event while also working in the areas of marketing and compliance.
Cannell will join the league’s media relations department, bringing experience as a student assistant for the UNC Athletic Communications department and as a sports reporter with the Daily Tar Heel.
While working for UNC, Cannell served as the Tar Heels' primary contact for fencing while also assisting with swimming and diving and working at various ACC and NCAA Tournament events.
The Greensboro, N.C., native graduated from UNC with a B.A. in journalism and public relations, and at the Southern Conference, she will be the league’s primary media contact for multiple sports as well as the coordinator of the FCS Coaches Poll, which the league office administers.
Yaman, who joined the league office in 2008 as the Director of Media Relations, provides oversight for all of the league’s media relations efforts with direct involvement in men’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, the Southern Conference Hall of Fame and all league-produced television events.
After serving as the External Affairs Assistant in 2006-07, Neff was named Director of Championships in July 2007. He is responsible for the planning, staffing and management for the championships in 17 of the league’s 19 sports, in addition to coordinating the league’s merchandising efforts. Neff is also the meet coordinator for the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) championship event.
“The title changes reflect the added responsibilities and individual growth both Brandon and Jason have displayed in their time with us,” noted Iamarino.