Benjamin Kessler
815 Pershing Drive,Silver Spring
Summary
Innovative and dynamic relationship-driven communications professional with a proven track record in amplifying brand exposure and engagement. Extensive leadership experience spearheading media relations and storytelling efforts for a top-tier NCAA football program in the nation's third-largest market, as well as a major Division 1 conference.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Associate Director of Communications
Atlantic 10 Conference
01.2024 - Current
- Lead all media efforts for Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball, including all operations of Championship and promotion of league and its institutions throughout the season.
- Sports Administrator for men's soccer and softball, overseeing all operations and planning of the sport throughout the season, including the postseason Championship
- Work with Commissioner and Senior Staff to increase league's overall footprint.
- Organized short term effort to increase league's presence on social media, which resulted in 180% increase in interactions from year prior.
- Oversee intern program, including the hiring, management and development of all conference interns.
- Primary media contact for numerous other sports, including men's lacrosse, women's soccer, and tennis
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
University Of Maryland Athletics
7 2019 - 12.2023
- Managed publicity efforts and media operations for Maryland football program, spearheading all student-athlete media requests and opportunities.
- Crafted comprehensive weekly game notes and stories used by major media outlets such as ESPN, ABC, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Buzzfeed, Bleacher Report, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Baltimore Sun, and others.
- Successfully pitched more than 40 feature stories per year to national and local media outlets, identifying ideal timing and outlet for each story.
- Assumed role of Chief Creative Director for over 15 successful promotional campaigns, including impactful video series and innovative recruiting initiatives that have led to five million social media impressions, two million website hits and three top-25 recruiting classes.
- Led our Strategic Communications student intern program, recruiting and interviewing prospective student employees to serve as writers and mentor them as they go through our internship and job-finding process.
- Implemented effective public relations and social media strategies to amplify the Maryland brand, resulting in a record-breaking 24.3 million interactions across all football and lacrosse social media platforms over the last five years.
- Primary media contact for 15-time national champion women's lacrosse program, helping promote one of the most iconic brands in collegiate athletics.
- Co-hosted widely acclaimed Maryland Athletics podcast "Hear The Turtle," conducting engaging interviews with top athletes, coaches and national media personalities.
- Coordinated all interviews and developed publicity strategies for star QB Taulia Tagovailoa, as well as other high-profile student-athletes.
- Managed all press box operations on home game days, including set up, credential distribution, supervision of student interns, responding to journalist and television needs, in-game announcements and postgame press conferences.
- Developed compelling content and conducted extensive research to create assets for new football facility, Jones Hill-House.
Media Relations Assistant
University Of Maryland Athletics
2 2018 - 7 2019
- Primary contact for National Champion women's lacrosse program and volleyball program; secondary contact for football and women's basketball programs.
- Played crucial role in smooth transition of the head football coach and director of athletics, providing valuable assistance in public relations efforts during these key leadership changes.
- Led publicity campaign for Megan Taylor in 2019, who made history becoming the first ever goalie to win the Tewaaraton Award.
Communications Assistant
New York Jets
07.2016 - 02.2018
- Enhanced day-to-day football and corporate communications initiatives for the 2017 season as a member of the New York Jets Communications staff.
- Spearheaded publicity campaigns for various team events, including the Jets Gameday Upfront, Salute to Service game, and Jets Movie Night, effectively boosting event participation and brand recognition.
- Secured prominent coverage in esteemed publications such as ESPN, New York Times, Sports Illustrated, New York Daily News, and New York Post, as well as on CBS, FOX, and ESPN TV broadcasts through successful story pitches.
- Managed media interviews and opportunities for notable NFL stars Jamal Adams, Robby Anderson, and Marcus Maye, as well as assistant coaches, ensuring maximum positive exposure for the team.
- Pioneered establishment of NYJetsPR Twitter and Instagram accounts, serving as innovative channels for relaying information to media and fans, amassing a substantial following of 17k on Twitter.
Super Bowl LII Public Relations Assistant
National Football League
01.2018 - 02.2018
- Assisted in media operation for biggest sporting event of the year, Super Bowl LII, overseeing Radio Row, home to over 200 radio stations from across the nation and over 9,000 interviews that took place over the course of week.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Broadcast Journalism
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 09.2013 - 05.2017
Timeline
Associate Director of Communications
Atlantic 10 Conference
01.2024 - Current
Super Bowl LII Public Relations Assistant
National Football League
01.2018 - 02.2018
Communications Assistant
New York Jets
07.2016 - 02.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Broadcast Journalism
University of Maryland
09.2013 - 05.2017
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
University Of Maryland Athletics
7 2019 - 12.2023
Media Relations Assistant
University Of Maryland Athletics
2 2018 - 7 2019
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