FREELAND, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced today the addition of Sheila Blackman as the Director of Media Relations. 

“Sheila comes to us with extensive sports information and public relations experience that will make our social media and website presence stronger,” MIAA Commissioner Penny Allen-Cook said. “She brings an enormous amount of enthusiasm and creative ideas and I am confident our members are going to enjoy working with her.”

A 16-year veteran of intercollegiate communications, Blackman will head the NCAA Division III conference’s communications efforts for its 20 sport programs. Blackman will oversee the MIAA’s traditional and social media campaigns, coordinate conference statistics and standings, marketing, and public relations efforts. 

During her career in athletic communications, Blackman has worked at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Kent State University, and Oakland University. Blackman began at UW-Green Bay, serving as the department’s assistant sports information director while working specifically with the nationally-ranked women’s basketball program along with nine of the university’s 16 intercollegiate teams.

Blackman then spent four seasons at Kent State, working with women’s golf, women’s basketball, soccer, gymnastics and track & field programs. Along with serving as the media coordinator for the 2011 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, Blackman also aided in the media coordination efforts during Kent State’s appearance at the 2012 College World Series.

Upon her arrival in Michigan in 2013, Blackman worked for two years at Oakland, coordinating communication efforts for swimming and diving, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball programs.

A 1998 graduate of UW-Green Bay, Blackman was a student-athlete for the Phoenix, playing four seasons on the women’s soccer team before beginning her sports information career and graduating with a degree in Communication Processes.