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Get to Know Matthew Then; Juniata Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference is proud to spotlight the campus leaders who support and elevate the student-athlete experience. This month’s feature highlights Matthew Then, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Juniata College. From preparing gameday materials to being a trusted resource for student-athletes, Then shares insight into the work that drives his passion for athletics and storytelling.

Describe a typical day in your role.
A typical day consists of arriving at the office and getting programs and scripts ready for the next gameday. Make sure the office is caught up on anything we would need done for the week. If there are no games, I will move on to more of my work, which changes depending on the day, but some tasks include uploading pictures to the drive, making graphics, editing videos, and more!

What’s something people might not realize about your job?
Some people might not realize the amount of stuff we have to do before and after a game. People can see us working a gameday but not realize that we were probably here two hours early to set up and will probably be there an hour after to clean up and to write recaps. I think the overall time load might be a surprise to some.

How do you support student-athletes beyond the game?
I support student athletes beyond the game by being another voice in the building who isn't their coach. My office has become a place where athletes, whether they work in the office or not, come and speak about things that are going on with themselves and their team. I also try to help out around the building in as many ways as I can, like rebounding for basketball players, being a test dummy for new ideas in the weight room, and serving as the staff advisor to SAAC.

What keeps you motivated during the busy times of year?
What keeps me motivated is knowing that what I'm doing has value and the appreciation that my coworkers and the athletes show for what I do. Being a former athlete, the grind that comes with this job reminds me of being an athlete, and I've grown to love it.

How has your view of college athletics evolved?
My view of college athletics has grown since I started undergrad six years ago. Being an athlete and then working in every department possible in athletics gave me the ability to see every single side of this business. I have a special place for Division III athletics in particular because it is the purest form of college sports, with all the changes that have been going on in recent years.

Favorite tradition or campus event?
My favorite campus event is probably the Alfies, our year-end Juniata Athletics award show. Even though it is a lot of work for our office, it's an event that signifies the end of the year, and it's nice to have one last moment with every athlete and coach on campus.

One book, podcast, or show you recommend?
Ozark. I just started my fourth time watching it.

What’s one thing you hope to accomplish this year?
I hope to keep progressing in my career and learning new skills that can be used in my field every day.