Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Kayli Tran
3/8/2024 3:00:00 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.
Kayli Tran is a first-year graduate assistant (GA) working in the Bronco Athletic Association (BAA), the fundraising arm of the athletic department. She specifically works with Varsity B and enhancement funds and is enrolled in the Master of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program.
Tran did not follow the traditional application process of filling out an application, followed by interviews to get the position. She spent three years at Boise State as a student-athlete, competing in gymnastics, and upon graduating in May last year, she sat down with one of the BroncoLife staff members to go over her future plans and goals.
"I sat down with Kelli Nooney, director of student-athlete development, and she provided me with some guidance on how to navigate my career post-graduation and post-gymnastics," said Tran. "I knew that I would be facing a lot of change in those upcoming months, losing the structure that being a student-athlete had always provided me, but one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to stay in Boise. And I was actually at the airport heading home for the summer when Kelli called me to tell me about this GA role and felt that I would be perfect for it."
In terms of helping with enhancement funds, Tran is responsible for sport-specific engagement, such as sending out newsletters to people who were previously involved with the different programs – such as alumni, past donors and season ticket holders – while sharing what their donations are specifically being used for. This year, it was decided that Tran would focus solely on five ticketed sport programs for this, gymnastics, soccer, softball, volleyball and women's basketball.
"This was a new position we created to focus on sport-specific giving," said her supervisor, assistant athletic director of resource development, Justin Rogers. "For her to step into a role when it's her first time working in a professional setting, fresh out of undergrad, is a lot to ask of somebody so her learning curve has been steep. However, she has had the best attitude as she takes in everything this role has to offer one day at a time."
Tran was a student-athlete at Boise State for three years after transferring from Seattle Pacific after the gymnastics program was cut in 2020.
"After the gymnastics program at Seattle Pacific was cut, I really just took a leap of faith coming to Boise State because I never had the opportunity to visit due to COVID-19," said Tran. "Having been a student-athlete here has been incredibly beneficial to growing in my new role because I'm able to relate with the alumni we work with. The Bronco community is very tight-knit and the line we say about 'once a Bronco, always a Bronco' couldn't be truer."
Varsity B is the alumni base that works to keep former student-athletes at Boise State involved and engaged in the community after graduation and athletics.
When it comes to her responsibilities with Varsity B, Tran helps Daryn Colledge, director of development for Varsity B, by planning alumni weekends and attending pod meetings to bridge the gap and connect head coaches with Varsity B. For example, she helped organize Boise State gymnastics alumni weekend earlier this year.
Boise State gymnastics will be competing in its final home meet on Sunday, March 17, at ExtraMile Arena at noon. Tickets can be purchased online at broncosports.com/tickets.
"Graduate assistants are truly like the life line of the athletics department to be totally honest because GAs come in and provide extra support for every sub-department," said Colledge. "Kayli is a former student-athlete so, for me, her direct connection to Varsity B and the BAA shows that she is still supporting the men and women that she went through the program with. It's a really unique side and special thing for us and provides an even deeper connection to how the university and alumni interact."
Since she still has another year in the MAL program, Tran is focusing on finding her specific career path. Tran is focusing this next year at Boise State to learn where her passions lie and what professional role fits her best.
"You always hear about how the people that we work with are what makes everything worth it, and I really understand that now," said Tran. "There's a strong sense of community here, and I feel like I've really found a home in the BAA. As a student-athlete, I never had the chance to interact with many of the staff that are working behind-the-scenes to provide student-athletes with the best experience possible. I've learned a lot from this opportunity, seeing Boise State Athletics from a new perspective, and I'm thankful for the support that everyone in the BAA has given me."
Kayli Tran is a first-year graduate assistant (GA) working in the Bronco Athletic Association (BAA), the fundraising arm of the athletic department. She specifically works with Varsity B and enhancement funds and is enrolled in the Master of Athletic Leadership (MAL) program.
Tran did not follow the traditional application process of filling out an application, followed by interviews to get the position. She spent three years at Boise State as a student-athlete, competing in gymnastics, and upon graduating in May last year, she sat down with one of the BroncoLife staff members to go over her future plans and goals.
"I sat down with Kelli Nooney, director of student-athlete development, and she provided me with some guidance on how to navigate my career post-graduation and post-gymnastics," said Tran. "I knew that I would be facing a lot of change in those upcoming months, losing the structure that being a student-athlete had always provided me, but one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to stay in Boise. And I was actually at the airport heading home for the summer when Kelli called me to tell me about this GA role and felt that I would be perfect for it."
In terms of helping with enhancement funds, Tran is responsible for sport-specific engagement, such as sending out newsletters to people who were previously involved with the different programs – such as alumni, past donors and season ticket holders – while sharing what their donations are specifically being used for. This year, it was decided that Tran would focus solely on five ticketed sport programs for this, gymnastics, soccer, softball, volleyball and women's basketball.
"This was a new position we created to focus on sport-specific giving," said her supervisor, assistant athletic director of resource development, Justin Rogers. "For her to step into a role when it's her first time working in a professional setting, fresh out of undergrad, is a lot to ask of somebody so her learning curve has been steep. However, she has had the best attitude as she takes in everything this role has to offer one day at a time."
Tran was a student-athlete at Boise State for three years after transferring from Seattle Pacific after the gymnastics program was cut in 2020.
"After the gymnastics program at Seattle Pacific was cut, I really just took a leap of faith coming to Boise State because I never had the opportunity to visit due to COVID-19," said Tran. "Having been a student-athlete here has been incredibly beneficial to growing in my new role because I'm able to relate with the alumni we work with. The Bronco community is very tight-knit and the line we say about 'once a Bronco, always a Bronco' couldn't be truer."
Varsity B is the alumni base that works to keep former student-athletes at Boise State involved and engaged in the community after graduation and athletics.
When it comes to her responsibilities with Varsity B, Tran helps Daryn Colledge, director of development for Varsity B, by planning alumni weekends and attending pod meetings to bridge the gap and connect head coaches with Varsity B. For example, she helped organize Boise State gymnastics alumni weekend earlier this year.
Boise State gymnastics will be competing in its final home meet on Sunday, March 17, at ExtraMile Arena at noon. Tickets can be purchased online at broncosports.com/tickets.
"Graduate assistants are truly like the life line of the athletics department to be totally honest because GAs come in and provide extra support for every sub-department," said Colledge. "Kayli is a former student-athlete so, for me, her direct connection to Varsity B and the BAA shows that she is still supporting the men and women that she went through the program with. It's a really unique side and special thing for us and provides an even deeper connection to how the university and alumni interact."
Since she still has another year in the MAL program, Tran is focusing on finding her specific career path. Tran is focusing this next year at Boise State to learn where her passions lie and what professional role fits her best.
"You always hear about how the people that we work with are what makes everything worth it, and I really understand that now," said Tran. "There's a strong sense of community here, and I feel like I've really found a home in the BAA. As a student-athlete, I never had the chance to interact with many of the staff that are working behind-the-scenes to provide student-athletes with the best experience possible. I've learned a lot from this opportunity, seeing Boise State Athletics from a new perspective, and I'm thankful for the support that everyone in the BAA has given me."
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