(Lewiston, ID) Alisha Alexander has touched the lives of College Sports Communicators (CSC) and NAIA members alike ever since her inaugural season as an athletic communication professional during the 2018-19 school year and has continuously expanded her reach to numerous organizations across the country with her inspiring day-to-day efforts, intentional networking, and groundbreaking sports coverage at Lewis-Clark State College and beyond. There are leaders and there are those who lead, and Alexander has been leading by example since day one as a pioneer for women within the sports information profession.
CSC Rising Star is presented annually to College Sports Communicators members in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, Canadian institutions) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in athletics communications. It is voted on by the Special Awards Committee. Alexander joins NAIA national office member Katie Green as the College Division recipients this year.
Alexander is currently in her seventh year at LC State as the Sports Information Director while also serving in the Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Leader roles since the summer of 2022. On the national level, Alexander serves as the First Vice President of the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA) Executive Board as the lone west coast representative, where she in the first year of a three-year term before eventually rising to the role of NAIA-SIDA President for a three-year term in 2027. Her duties include the planning of the annual NAIA Divisional Day at CSC Unite, and serves on the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC).
A message from Alisha Alexander, 2025 Rising Star Award Recipient – “The world of college athletics is special, and athletic communications is such an important part of that. I’m beyond blessed to work at an incredible institution in the NAIA and in a conference as great as the Cascade. To be recognized for the passion I put into my work by those from all areas of the industry is so special and I could not be more grateful. Special shoutout to my student-athletes and interns that make every day exciting. There’s nothing like small college athletics.”
Austin Johnson, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) – “Alisha is very deserving of this recognition from College Sports Communicators, and I am excited for her to receive it as this award is well-earned. Alisha has been the SID during my entire tenure at LC State and she has grown significantly in her role. While much of her time is spent on reporting and promoting our programs and student-athletes, she has worked tirelessly to increase the student-athlete experience here at LCSC. She is a determined advocate for our student-athletes and much of her work goes into spotlighting them and giving them a platform to share their success in the classroom, community and specific sport. She has also been a tremendous resource and help to our conference SIDs in the work she undertakes and connections she makes to improve the efficiency and visibility of our conference.”
Tommy Chasanoff, Assistant Athletic Director – Sports Information at the University of Cumberlands (Ky.) and NAIA-SIDA President – “Alisha has become one of the most well-respected athletics communicators in not only the NAIA but throughout our profession over the past few years. She is an incredible ambassador for Lewis-Clark State, the CCC, and the NAIA and I’m thrilled that Alisha is the 2025 CSC Rising Star recipient. Alisha will continue to do great things and I’m fortunate to serve with her on the NAIA-SIDA Board but even more thankful for her friendship.”
Clayton Messerle, Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Communications at Corban University (Ore.) – “We’ve known of Alisha’s rising star potential on the west coast for far longer than the date of this well-deserved award goes to show. Every one of us Cascade Collegiate Conference members have been blessed with her supportive leadership and to have seen her succeed on a local, regional, and national level in just six and a half short years. There’s no doubt in my mind that she will serve as a staple in Pacific Northwest college athletics from NAIA to NCAA and beyond for years to come. She’s the kind of person who makes everyone around her a better professional by demonstrating her legitimate enjoyment for the SID line of work, and I couldn’t ask for a better mentor and friend.”
Award shows are nothing new to Alexander, as the Southern California native has been nominated and selected for countless honors that vary from regional to national scales, starting with a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference Sports Information Director of the Year awards presented in 2021 and 2023. Following her 2023 selection, she was named the NAIA SID of the Year, representing the entire organization for her remarkable work completed during the 2022-23 school year. Regarding both aforementioned CCC and NAIA awards, she is the first female to have been selected to either accolade and became the first LC State SID to be selected to the national title.
The 2022-23 school year was a hectic but fulfilling one for Alexander, as her media work at LC State that includes writing season previews, game recaps, handling social media platforms, and coordinating all student-athlete press needs and media day production also resulted in a CSC 30-Under-30 award, representing one of the first thirty CSC professionals to be honored within the inaugural class.
In addition to her own personal success, Alexander has worked tirelessly to promote the success of her own student-athletes at LC State, including the nomination of 68 unique CSC Academic All-District award winners and eight CSC Academic All-Americans. Three different LC State titles aside, she also serves a pivotal role as the institution’s Association of Student-
Athletes (ASA) leader and was a vital protagonist in the strategic planning/production of the inaugural LCSPYs, a student-athlete awards banquet designed to promote the achievements of every Warrior on a local scale.
As the primary representative of all 13 LC State varsity sports and the media director for the Avista NAIA World Series that the college has hosted since it was relocated to Harris Field in the spring of 2000, Alexander puts the city of Lewiston on her back 365 days a year to promote one of the most successful athletic departments within The Gem State. Her hard work has resulted in multiple top-10 finishes in CoSIDA/CSC and NAIA-SIDA publication contests since 2022, and was voted Best in Nation for her graphic submission in single-sports programs category. The entirety of the lcwarriors.com website has been completely reworked and endlessly monitored by Alexander on a daily basis, demonstrating her true commitment to promoting the lives of LC State student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
Prior to her appointment at Lewis-Clark State, Alexander served as the Sports Information Assistant for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps from the NCAA DIII field, where she served as the primary contact for softball and men’s/women’s track & field, alongside assisting with multiple other sports. She graduated from Concordia University, Irvine in December of 2016 and quickly became a graduate assistant for the Eagles while simultaneously serving as an intern for the PacWest Conference of the NCAA DII ranks, 2016 Ryder Cup, and 2017 Senior PGA Championship. In November of 2018, she obtained her Master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration to complete her secondary education. She currently resides in Lewiston with her husband Zac Fisher and their dogs, Hunter and Freddy.
To Alexander, there is no glass ceiling to shatter, but merely a bar to consistently raise.
