General 10/20/2016 1:02:00 PM Mike Miranto, Associate A.D. For Communications

Niland Announces Administrative Promotions

AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College Director of Athletics Bridget Niland announced a trio of promotions within the athletic department's administrative staff today. Amanda Zanghi has been promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Events and Operations; Mike Berkun has been promoted to Athletics Operations Coordinator; and, Meaghan Kelsey has been promoted to Athletics Compliance Assistant.

"Amanda, Mike and Meaghan have all worked diligently to establish themselves as young leaders in the collegiate sports industry. We are incredibly fortunate to have these three talented professionals on our team as we continue to build Buffalo-Niagara's only NCAA Division II athletics program," Niland said. "The work they have done, and are doing, is essential to that building process. We look forward to their continued development in their new roles within our department."

Zanghi's promotion comes after joining the staff in the fall of 2015 to head up the department's game and event management and gameday promotions. Along the way, she was promoted to Athletics Operations Coordinator, and her latest promotion bumps her up the department's senior administration level. As the Assistant Athletics Director for Events and Operations, Zanghi serves as Daemen's leading authority on game presentation, which includes the scheduling and promotion of special events, halftime guests and activities. She also provides oversight on the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, including facility management, the development and implementation of various revenue-generating initiatives, and the overall coordination of the department's work-study program. She oversees the athletics operations staff which includes the Athletics Operations Coordinator and the Athletics Operations Assistant.

A 2013 Daemen graduate, Zanghi went on to add a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Canisius College in 2014. She got her start in the sports industry as the Retail and Soccer Operations Manager for the Western New York Flash, a women's professional soccer franchise. She also completed internships with the Buffalo Sabres and Western New York Flash, as well as with the athletic departments at Daemen and Buffalo State College.

Berkun's promotion is a step up the ladder on the athletics operations staff after serving as the Athletics Operations Assistant. In the higher profile position, Berkun is responsible for maintaining the department's master apparel and equipment database, serving as the point person with apparel contractor ADPRO Sports, overseeing team travel arrangements, and all Daemen Athletics insurance policies, among other duties.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Berkun has been a member of the Daemen men's basketball coaching staff since the 2014-15 season. He currently serves as the team's Associate Head Coach. Berkun is a 2010 graduate of Medaille College with six years of experience in the collegiate sports industry, having worked at his alma mater prior to his initial hiring at Daemen.

Kelsey, who became the Athletics Operations Intern in August of 2015, is a 2013 graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. She went on to add her Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, graduating magna cum laude earlier this year. As an intern within the department, she was selected to attend the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar held at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind.

In her new role, Kelsey assists Brandi Guerinot, the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Success, in ensuring that Daemen's 16 intercollegiate athletics programs are compliant with East Coast Conference and NCAA Division II rules and regulations.

For continuing coverage of Daemen Athletics, follow @DaemenAthletics on Twitter.

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