MOUNT VERNON – Maya Dawson has been named Cornell College's Assistant Athletics Communications Director, effective Jan. 16.
 
Dawson, of Suffolk, Va., comes to Mount Vernon after serving as media relations assistant at the Atlantic 10 Conference office since August 2022.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Maya to our athletics department and Cornell community," said Athletics Communications Director Kerry Kahl. "Maya brings a diverse skill set that will enhance coverage of our 20 intercollegiate sports and continue to build on the student-athlete gameday experience. Maya's passion for college athletics and professional background with social media, writing, statistics, websites and live streams make her a great fit on the Hilltop."
 
Dawson was a sports information student assistant at NCAA Division I Norfolk State University from 2018-22. She helped oversee athletics communications and media relations operations for multiple sports at Norfolk State, which included hosting Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournaments.
 
"I want to thank Jeff Meeker, Kerry Kahl and the Cornell College staff for welcoming me into the Ram Family," Dawson said. "I am super excited for the opportunity and can't wait to get started."
 
Dawson earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications and general broadcast from Norfolk State in 2022. She graduated as a Parsons Fellow of the Robert C. Nusbaum Honors College. Dawson is pursuing a master's in sports management from Old Dominion University.
 
At the Atlantic 10 Conference, Dawson was the primary media contact and championships director for the Olympic sports of field hockey, swimming and diving, cross country, track & field and softball. 
 
In 2021, Dawson worked as a media relations intern for the Norfolk Tides minor league baseball team in Norfolk, Va. She was sports editor for two years of the Norfolk State school newspaper, the Spartan Echo.