Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Sydney Bruner
12/8/2023 2:00:00 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.
Sydney Bruner is a second-year graduate assistant (GA) working in the business development and revenue innovation department at Boise State Athletics while pursuing a degree in the Master of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program.
Bruner initially applied for a different position prior to deciding whether or not she wanted to go back to school. Bruner has a public relations degree and MBA from Quinnipiac, where she was a student-athlete in softball.
"I knew I wanted to move back to Idaho and Boise was close to home," said Bruner. "At the time I applied, Boise State was really well known as a growing university that was continuously working to get better which made it even more intriguing."
The business development and revenue innovation department focuses on generating money outside of the traditional revenue streams of philanthropy, ticketing, sponsorships and multimedia rights. It also houses Boise State's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program.
"Sydney's GA position was a new position for us in that new business unit and having a graduate assistant, no matter who is in that role, has been really helpful for us," said associate athletic director of strategic communications and business development Mike Walsh. "Sydney's a person who's highly educated and brought a new perspective as someone who has a business acumen and was a student-athlete. She's incredibly sharp and somebody that I can trust to go out there and get things done."
Bruner's day-to-day responsibilities include sending out emails, working on newsletters, handling communication between student-athletes and potential partnerships and tracking and assisting student-athletes with inputting their NIL deals into INFLCR.
Some of the biggest examples of NIL deals Boise State has done include the trading cards and name and number apparel across the different sports.
Specifically, in men's and women's basketball, the business development and revenue innovation department is working on partnering with businesses who are existing sponsors and are incorporating the student-athletes in their in-venue and radio assets' messaging. Here, the student-athlete delivers the message on behalf of a corporate partner, which is a NIL opportunity for the student-athlete to be an ambassador for that business while being compensated.
Both teams' seasons have begun with the men's next home game taking place on Saturday, Dec. 9, against Western Oregon at 2 p.m., and the women's on Tuesday, Dec. 12, versus Rocky Mountain College at noon.
Tickets to attend Boise State men's or women's basketball games can be purchased by calling the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737 or at broncosports.com/tickets.
In addition to her assistantship in business development and revenue innovation, Bruner has picked up additional responsibilities within Boise State Athletics. This includes working as an event assistant for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, helping Bronco Sports Properties (BSP) on football gamedays, taking on office hours for BSP and collaborating with BroncoLife on educational programming for NIL for student-athletes.
"Our athletic department is thriving because of the positive energy and hard work of our graduate assistants," said associate athletic director of student-athlete development Sara Whiles. "Sydney is a great example of someone who is excited to learn about careers in college athletics while making Boise State a great experience for our student-athletes."
Bruner also assisted in planning and executing a Hot Works NIL night for the women's volleyball team. She was also able to attend the NIL summit, where she got to be surrounded by some of the biggest NIL names in collegiate athletics, which is among some of her best memories.
While she does not know what specific area of athletics she specifically wants to work in, she knows she wants to be involved in college athletics because of her positive work experience at Boise State.
"The best part about working here, and in college athletics, is the people," said Bruner. "I just need to find out what I'm most passionate about and where I feel the most purpose in athletics."
Sydney Bruner is a second-year graduate assistant (GA) working in the business development and revenue innovation department at Boise State Athletics while pursuing a degree in the Master of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program.
Bruner initially applied for a different position prior to deciding whether or not she wanted to go back to school. Bruner has a public relations degree and MBA from Quinnipiac, where she was a student-athlete in softball.
"I knew I wanted to move back to Idaho and Boise was close to home," said Bruner. "At the time I applied, Boise State was really well known as a growing university that was continuously working to get better which made it even more intriguing."
The business development and revenue innovation department focuses on generating money outside of the traditional revenue streams of philanthropy, ticketing, sponsorships and multimedia rights. It also houses Boise State's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program.
"Sydney's GA position was a new position for us in that new business unit and having a graduate assistant, no matter who is in that role, has been really helpful for us," said associate athletic director of strategic communications and business development Mike Walsh. "Sydney's a person who's highly educated and brought a new perspective as someone who has a business acumen and was a student-athlete. She's incredibly sharp and somebody that I can trust to go out there and get things done."
Bruner's day-to-day responsibilities include sending out emails, working on newsletters, handling communication between student-athletes and potential partnerships and tracking and assisting student-athletes with inputting their NIL deals into INFLCR.
Some of the biggest examples of NIL deals Boise State has done include the trading cards and name and number apparel across the different sports.
Specifically, in men's and women's basketball, the business development and revenue innovation department is working on partnering with businesses who are existing sponsors and are incorporating the student-athletes in their in-venue and radio assets' messaging. Here, the student-athlete delivers the message on behalf of a corporate partner, which is a NIL opportunity for the student-athlete to be an ambassador for that business while being compensated.
Both teams' seasons have begun with the men's next home game taking place on Saturday, Dec. 9, against Western Oregon at 2 p.m., and the women's on Tuesday, Dec. 12, versus Rocky Mountain College at noon.
Tickets to attend Boise State men's or women's basketball games can be purchased by calling the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737 or at broncosports.com/tickets.
In addition to her assistantship in business development and revenue innovation, Bruner has picked up additional responsibilities within Boise State Athletics. This includes working as an event assistant for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, helping Bronco Sports Properties (BSP) on football gamedays, taking on office hours for BSP and collaborating with BroncoLife on educational programming for NIL for student-athletes.
"Our athletic department is thriving because of the positive energy and hard work of our graduate assistants," said associate athletic director of student-athlete development Sara Whiles. "Sydney is a great example of someone who is excited to learn about careers in college athletics while making Boise State a great experience for our student-athletes."
Bruner also assisted in planning and executing a Hot Works NIL night for the women's volleyball team. She was also able to attend the NIL summit, where she got to be surrounded by some of the biggest NIL names in collegiate athletics, which is among some of her best memories.
While she does not know what specific area of athletics she specifically wants to work in, she knows she wants to be involved in college athletics because of her positive work experience at Boise State.
"The best part about working here, and in college athletics, is the people," said Bruner. "I just need to find out what I'm most passionate about and where I feel the most purpose in athletics."
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