Kailin Nelson was promoted to the role of Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Communications for Chatham University in January of 2021 after five years as the Sports Information Director at Chatham.
Among Nelson's administrative responsibilities as Assistant Athletic Director are overseeing the men's and women's soccer programs, serving as the lead contact and on-site administrator for UPMC Graham Field working with stakeholders on facility rentals and fundraising endeavors, and approving schedules for Chatham's 24 varsity teams. She will oversee the Competitive Cheerleading program and Dance team. She will also serve on the hiring committee for the athletic department. In addition, Nelson will be responsible for ensuring the adherence to regulations and policies of all governing bodies, including the
Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC),
United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), NCAA, and Chatham University, with an emphasis on social media and communication compliance.
Nelson is responsible for the staffing and managing of the Sports Information Department which includes one full-time staff member, three graduate assistants and around 20 undergraduate student workers.
Nelson got her start in Sports Information while working in the office at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs while earning her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biology, graduating in 2015.
She continued her Sports Information career by working one year in the office at Chatham in 2015-16 while beginning her graduate studies before she was elevated to the role of Sports Information Director.
In her time at Chatham, she has helped promote significant growth within the athletic department. Since her hiring, the University added five men’s sports in the 2015-16 school year alone, two more men’s sports and another women’s sport for the 2017-18 season, and two additional men’s programs for the 2018-19 and fall 2019 seasons respectively. She has been essential in increasing the student-athlete population as Chatham now offers 24 sports with the most recent additions of women's and men's wrestling beginning in 2026-27.
Nelson is responsible for providing all media relations and communications efforts for the athletic department, which includes but is not limited to the maintenance and updating of the official athletics website, operation of the official social media accounts for the athletic department, managing game day operations, serving as an official scorer and statistician for most home sporting events, and reporting to the NCAA and athletic conferences Chatham competes in. Nelson is in charge of all athletic events and promotions.
In addition to her sports information responsibilities at Chatham, Nelson serves as the advisor for the club golf team and oversees a student organization on campus, the Cougar Council.
A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nelson resides in Shadyside.
