INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-- UW-Superior's Ryan Castaneda was selected as one of the 30 participants for the 2026-27 NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program.

These Division III athletic communicators were selected from all those nominated this fall by their leaders and peers for participation in the program. Launched in 2024, the Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program is a professional development initiative hosted annually in December at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis. In addition to the in-person program in Indianapolis, all participants will be able to receive a one-time complimentary registration to CSC Unite 2027, to be held June 13-16 in Orlando.

Created in partnership with D3SIDA and College Sports Communicators, the program is designed to elevate the next generation of athletic communication leaders in Division III. Participants engage in interactive sessions focused on leadership development, managing and growing a team, cross-department collaboration, and navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics communications.

Thirty participants are selected each year and receive full funding to attend the program in Indianapolis. Each institution and conference office may nominate up to two participants.

Castaneda is the second representative from the UMAC in this program. Walker Froehling of Bethany Lutheran College previously attended in 2024.

2026-27 NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program participants:

Name	Organization	Title	Conference
Sophia Anderson	Oberlin College	Assistant Director of Athletics Communications	North Coast Athletic Conference
Julia Berg	Brandeis University	Social Media Associate	University Athletic Association
Kendis Butler	Penn State Harrisburg	Assistant Director of Athletic Communications	United East Conference
Abbie Campion	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	Sports Information Director	Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Ryan Castaneda	University of Wisconsin - Superior	Sports Information Manager	Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
Evelyn DeVaux	Trinity College (CT)	Assistant Athletic Communications Director	New England Small College Athletic Conference
Sierra Dickson	American Southwest Conference	Assistant Commissioner	American Southwest Conference
Gabrielle Ducharme	Chapman University	Assistant Sports Information Director	Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Elizabeth Garabed	Cenentary University	Sports Information Director	Atlantic East Conference
Aaron Gray	University of California, Santa Cruz	Director of Athletic Communications	Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference
Charlie Grey	Carroll University (WI)	Director of Athletic Communications	College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin
Riley Holmes	Goucher College	Director of Athletic Communications	Landmark Conference
Sam Hopp	Ripon College	Director of Athletic Communications	Midwest Conference
Charles Huschka	University of Wisconsin - River Falls	Assistant Sports Information Director	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Garrett Landin	Trinity University (Texas)	Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Communication	Southern Athletic Association
Briley Lawson	Elmira College	Sports Information Director	Empire 8
Nick Lewis	Middlebury College	Director of Athletic Communications	New England Small College Athletic Conference
Simon Luedtke	University of Puget Sound	Director of Athletic Communciations	Northwest Conference
James McGlynn	Hamilton College	Assistant Sports Information Director	New England Small College Athletic Conference
Jordan Modjeski	Saint John's University	Assistant Director of Athletic Communications	Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Emma Monismith	Juniata College	Assistant Director for Athletic Communications & Digital Media	Landmark Conference
Allie Osterhoudt	North Atlantic Conference	Assistant Commissioner	North Atlantic Conference
Leandro Pares	Middle Atlantic Conference	Assistant Executive Director for Communications	Middle Atlantic Conference
Mike Prang	Adrian College	Sports Information Director	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Zac Saylor	Randolph-Macon College	Director of Athletic Communications	Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Griffin Schmoyer	Wilkes University	Assistant Sports Information Director	Landmark Conference
Faith Wayman	California Lutheran University	Sports Information Director	Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Marissa Weiss	Depauw University	Assistant Director of Athletics Communications	North Coast Athletic Conference
Emily Wilcox	Albion College	Assistant AD for Sport Communications	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Benjamin Zacher	Norwich University	Associate Director of Athletic Communications	Great Northeast Athletic Conference