UDC Hires Marlena Wright as Assistant AD for Communications

Washington, D.C. – The University of the District of Columbia announces the hiring of Marlena Wright as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications effective March 1, 2019.   Marlena  will be responsible for coordinating the Department of Athletics overall messaging strategy, including maintaining the athletics web site and related social media platforms.   In addition, she will coordinate media relations and game day operations relating to statistical crew, announcers, photographers, and filming.  In addition, Wright will coordinate student-athlete and team conference as well as national awards and will manage athletics marketing and promotional activities.

Marlena graduated from the University of the District of Columbia in 2016 with a degree in mass media with a focus in television production.   The 2016 Reslyn Henley Award recipient, Wright was a two time All-American in track & field, received the East Coast Conference Excellence in Community & Character Award, and was an East Coast Conference nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of the 142 female student-athletes representing all three NCAA divisions.   As a scholar, Marlena was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society.  As an undergraduate, she served as a production and photography lab assistant in the Mass Media program, and was a videographer intern in the department of athletics.   Marlena worked with WIFV (Women in Film and Video) DC as an intern, helping organize a major film conference, "ScriptDC" in 2017.

"The traditional role of Sports Information has advanced and athletics communication is a key part of the university's overall messaging strategy.   As a Firebird student-athlete, Marlena Wright fully embraced the NCAA Division II motto Make It Yours.   She epitomized excellence in academics, athletics and community outreach,  and will use innovative ideas to reach  wide ranging audiences and enhance our brand", said Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas.    "Marlena understands the University of the District of Columbia and its strengths.   She was the story and is now well poised to tell the story.   I am extremely pleased to work with her in this new role".