Ashton Pollard (MSJ21)

Associate Athletics Communications Director at the University of Notre Dame

Tell us about your career path. How did you get where you are today?

I have a more unconventional path. I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2018 with every intention of working in politics for the rest of my career. I served as an assistant at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in both the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs and the Office of the Secretary from 2018-20.

While HHS provided valuable experience and opened my eyes to the world of communications, I decided I wanted to take a shot at journalism. I had always been passionate about sports — I was a college athlete — and decided to concentrate in sports journalism at Medill.

After graduation, I became a breaking news writer for On3 Sports before taking a job as a beat writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated covering Notre Dame football and baseball. I met my current boss at a panel on establishing relationships between journalists and universities and made the move to Notre Dame in September 2022.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

I work primarily with the women’s basketball team and swimming and diving team in an office within athletics called Fighting Irish Media. As the ACD (formerly known as an SID), I am responsible for coordinating all things media for our coaches and student-athletes — interviews, stories, game notes, in-game statistics. I also update the WBB and S&D pages on FightingIrish.com and work with our social media, branding and creative video team to ensure we are promoting the teams to the best of our ability.

How has the Northwestern Medill network helped you advance in your career?

The connections I made while at Medill were priceless, and despite moving out of the strict journalism space, I still lean on many of my classmates who remain journalists today. All media jobs are interconnected, and Medill alums have some great careers and are always willing to help each other.

How can your industry be more inclusive and representative of society?

I’ve had nothing but positive experiences in my time in the industry, and Notre Dame Athletics has done a fantastic job of hiring people of all backgrounds. Opportunity is everything, and continuing to provide opportunities to all is critical to maintaining a healthy environment like the one we have in South Bend.

How have your identities influenced the way you navigate your professional career?

My time as a female student-athlete has influenced me greatly in my current role. I identify with the student-athletes with whom I work, and I am better able to put myself in their shoes.

What advice do you have for someone considering Medill? 

My biggest advice would be twofold. First, networking is key. The Northwestern platform often gets you in the door, but you have to impress from there. Reach out to those you admire in the industry before you might “need” them for a job or favor later. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone just for the sake of chatting and learning about their role. If you build those relationships now, it will greatly benefit you later.

Second, and you will hear this a lot at Medill because it is true, writing is the key to everything. Whether you want to be a writer for a local paper, on-air talent at a news station or work in an alternate form of media, writing is required in some capacity. The early Medill classes might seem tedious, but you’ll be happy you paid attention later.