CSC Award-Winning Female Leaders Dani Gariglio (Davidson) and Katie Gonzales (Illinois Wesleyan)

Host: Trip Durham, Founder, 2D Consulting, LLC

Length: 26:33

This podcast features Katie Gonzales and Dani Gariglio, two young leaders and “rising stars” in the College Sports Communicators organization, as they discuss their career paths, leadership philosophies, and the importance of building strong relationships. 

Gonzales is the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications at Illinois Wesleyan University, a Division III powerhouse. She was recently elected as CSC Third Vice President, and in three years will become the seventh woman in the history of CSC/CoSIDA to serve as President, and the second ethnic minority female to do so.

Gariglio was recently elevated to Assistant AD for Operations at Division I Davidson College, following her standout work as Director of Creative Services. Both of them earned CSC Rising Star Awards, with Katie gaining hers in 2024 and Dani in 2025. Additionally, both earned CSC President’s Awards for commitment and exemplary service to the national association, with Gonzales earning her honor last year as chair of the Academic All-America (AAA) Core Committee and Gariglio being recognized for her work on the AAA and Young Professionals Committee  during this past June’s CSC UNITE25 Convention.

Here’s a summation of the main points of this Beyond The Scoreboard podcast with Gonzales and Gariglio:

• Both share their career paths into college sports communications, highlighting the importance of mentorship and seizing opportunities.
• They share insights on what skills and guidance helped them excel in their respective athletic communications roles and ascend to the leadership roles they hold today.
• They advocate for building strong networks, servant leadership, leading with empathy, authenticity and integrity, and trusting intuition as keys to effective leadership.  
• Discussion on the value of service to the profession, particularly through committee work.
• The importance of setting personal boundaries as essential for long-term success and well-being, the importance of inclusion, and supporting women in leadership roles.
• Both offer advice to young professionals: build connections, seek out mentors, trust yourself, and always strive to leave things better than you found them.
• They credit their mentors for teaching her both the basics and creative aspects of her profession, which has influenced her approach to teaching and leading others.
• They also offer key takeaways from the June CSC UNITE 25 convention in Orlando.