Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Leah Gresham
12/15/2023 1:30:00 PM | General
Boise State Athletics is spotlighting the graduate assistants who work to help each department within athletics run smoothly while obtaining their master's degree. These features will tell the stories of graduate assistants while also giving information on what each department within Boise State Athletics does.
Leah Gresham is a second-year graduate assistant (GA) who is now working with the Bronco Athletic Association (BAA), the fundraising arm of the athletic department, as a membership development GA after having spent her first year in the ticket office.
Gresham applied to the Masters of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program while researching how she could get more involved with athletics. Her conversations with Scott Moorcroft, the director of the program, and Allie Lepori, MAL alum and special assistant to the athletic director, gave her the confidence needed to further her career through higher education.
"Allie explained to me the positive experience she had within the MAL and what the graduate assistantship specifically was," said Gresham. "She recommended some positions and forwarded my resume over to my now supervisor, Justin Rogers. We had a Zoom call set up two days later and about five minutes after the interview he informed me that I got the job and I got accepted into the program shortly after."
During her first year, Gresham spent time in the ticket office generating revenue through season ticket sales and stewardship.
"If someone attended a few men's basketball games, my goal would then be to see if they had interest in purchasing an elite pack or season tickets," said Gresham. "My goal was to help the customer realize the value in multi-game packages."
In May of 2023, Jake Mankin, associate athletic director of strategic marketing and revenue generation, and Rogers, assistant athletic director of resource development, saw a need for a position that would help increase member renewal rates, especially with new members.
"We saw how Leah interacted and served fans in the ticket office last year and knew she would be a great fit for this new position," said Rogers. "She has great people skills and an even greater attitude, always knowing how to get answers for our customers even if she doesn't have them immediately."
The position's main focus is enhancing football and men's basketball new season-ticket holders' experience through stewardship and membership education. Gresham is spending this men's basketball season interacting with new season-ticket holders, showing them the benefits of a BAA membership. She serves as their go-to point of contact during their first year as members.
Men's basketball will play at ExtraMile Arena on Sunday, Dec. 17 versus Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. MT.
Tickets to attend Boise State's men's basketball games can be purchased online at broncosports.com/tickets.
Since transition, Gresham spends most of her time giving members the opportunity to raise their priority giving level. Additional benefits become accessible with each giving level while improving the student-athlete experience.
In six months, Gresham has on-boarded 800 new BAA season ticket members and logged over 11,000 touchpoints with members. She has also helped generate over $50,000 in Bronco Nation Fund donations in the month of November.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Gresham helps raise support for Olympic sports in the fall by providing the opportunity for new football season ticket members to claim tickets to women's volleyball or soccer matches. She also still helps with group sales for women's volleyball and works with the BAA board and Blue Collar Club to increase the number of BAA members, finding efficient ways to steward new relationships.
"Leah brings a lot of positivity to the department and the work itself," said Mankin. "She is an incredible teammate, won't say no to anything that is needed from her and is somebody that cares about the work and people. She fits the mold for this position very well and is a great role model for other staff members."
While she's still figuring out the specifics of what she wants to do, Gresham credits the variety of experience she's received with the ticket office and BAA for narrowing her career path to external relations. The joy of interacting with fans and making a positive difference in the student-athlete experience perpetuates her passion for athletics.
"As a servant leader – I will always put others and the organization before myself," said Gresham. "I'm lucky to work with such a great team, where we all get along and support one another. I love the fans we work with because of how passionate they are about Boise State Athletics. I am so thankful for the cohort the MAL has given me and all of the support they provide."
Leah Gresham is a second-year graduate assistant (GA) who is now working with the Bronco Athletic Association (BAA), the fundraising arm of the athletic department, as a membership development GA after having spent her first year in the ticket office.
Gresham applied to the Masters of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program while researching how she could get more involved with athletics. Her conversations with Scott Moorcroft, the director of the program, and Allie Lepori, MAL alum and special assistant to the athletic director, gave her the confidence needed to further her career through higher education.
"Allie explained to me the positive experience she had within the MAL and what the graduate assistantship specifically was," said Gresham. "She recommended some positions and forwarded my resume over to my now supervisor, Justin Rogers. We had a Zoom call set up two days later and about five minutes after the interview he informed me that I got the job and I got accepted into the program shortly after."
During her first year, Gresham spent time in the ticket office generating revenue through season ticket sales and stewardship.
"If someone attended a few men's basketball games, my goal would then be to see if they had interest in purchasing an elite pack or season tickets," said Gresham. "My goal was to help the customer realize the value in multi-game packages."
In May of 2023, Jake Mankin, associate athletic director of strategic marketing and revenue generation, and Rogers, assistant athletic director of resource development, saw a need for a position that would help increase member renewal rates, especially with new members.
"We saw how Leah interacted and served fans in the ticket office last year and knew she would be a great fit for this new position," said Rogers. "She has great people skills and an even greater attitude, always knowing how to get answers for our customers even if she doesn't have them immediately."
The position's main focus is enhancing football and men's basketball new season-ticket holders' experience through stewardship and membership education. Gresham is spending this men's basketball season interacting with new season-ticket holders, showing them the benefits of a BAA membership. She serves as their go-to point of contact during their first year as members.
Men's basketball will play at ExtraMile Arena on Sunday, Dec. 17 versus Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. MT.
Tickets to attend Boise State's men's basketball games can be purchased online at broncosports.com/tickets.
Since transition, Gresham spends most of her time giving members the opportunity to raise their priority giving level. Additional benefits become accessible with each giving level while improving the student-athlete experience.
In six months, Gresham has on-boarded 800 new BAA season ticket members and logged over 11,000 touchpoints with members. She has also helped generate over $50,000 in Bronco Nation Fund donations in the month of November.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Gresham helps raise support for Olympic sports in the fall by providing the opportunity for new football season ticket members to claim tickets to women's volleyball or soccer matches. She also still helps with group sales for women's volleyball and works with the BAA board and Blue Collar Club to increase the number of BAA members, finding efficient ways to steward new relationships.
"Leah brings a lot of positivity to the department and the work itself," said Mankin. "She is an incredible teammate, won't say no to anything that is needed from her and is somebody that cares about the work and people. She fits the mold for this position very well and is a great role model for other staff members."
While she's still figuring out the specifics of what she wants to do, Gresham credits the variety of experience she's received with the ticket office and BAA for narrowing her career path to external relations. The joy of interacting with fans and making a positive difference in the student-athlete experience perpetuates her passion for athletics.
"As a servant leader – I will always put others and the organization before myself," said Gresham. "I'm lucky to work with such a great team, where we all get along and support one another. I love the fans we work with because of how passionate they are about Boise State Athletics. I am so thankful for the cohort the MAL has given me and all of the support they provide."
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