-- Courtesty of Chapman Athletics --
ORANGE, Calif. — Chapman Athletics Assistant Sports Information Director
Gabrielle Ducharme has been selected to participate in the 2026 Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program. It is a professional development initiative held each December at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. Developed in partnership with D3SIDA and College Sports Communicators, the program supports the advancement of the next generation of athletics communication leaders in Division III, per the NCAA.
The program is set to take place in Indianapolis, In. at the NCAA National Offices. Ducharme is one of 30 Division III Athletics Communicators selected nationally. Participants take part in interactive leadership sessions, team-management and collaboration exercises, and discussions on the evolving landscape of athletics communication. The experience also includes in-person networking, skill-building workshops and a complimentary one-time registration to the College Sports Communicators Convention the following June.
Chapman Athletics Interim Athletic Director Doug Aiken nominated Ducharme for the program.
"We're so proud of Gabrielle and excited for this opportunity for her to learn and engage with other up-and-coming Athletics Communicators at the NCAA headquarters," Aiken said. "We're looking forward to her coming back with new ideas for how we can better tell the stories of our amazing Chapman student-athletes."
Ducharme arrived at Chapman in October 2024 after stints in the WNBA, NCAA March Madness and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation. She worked in public relations with the Los Angeles Sparks, research with the NCAA March Madness women's basketball social media team and as a marketing intern with the Legacy Foundation team throughout the 2023 UCLA Football season and 2024 Rose Bowl game. In her current role, Ducharme works under long time Sports Information Director Steven Olveda overseeing media relations effort for Chapman's 23 NCAA Division III teams. They execute game day statistical tracking, oversee all livestreaming, the department's website, the @ChapmanSports social media pages, and other cross campus initiatives to help grow the Chapman Athletics brand campus wide and nationally.
Ducharme also created 'Panther Profiles', an in-depth look at Chapman Athletes beyond their sport and the field of play. She has spoken to students across almost every sports on campus and her stories have been published by campus partners and the NCAA. She looks forward to her experience in Indianapolis connecting with peers across the industry. Ducharme is a proud graduate from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and can be found still supporting her Sun Devils around the offices. She also enjoys mentoring Chapman students across campus interested in working in the sports media industry.
"I am absolutely honored to have been selected to the Athletics Communicators 2026 Emerging Elite program," Ducharme said. "Since arriving at Chapman almost two years ago, I have absolutely fallen in love with working in Division III Athletic Communications and what it stands for. I'd like to formally thank the NCAA, D3SIDA and College Sports Communicators for the opportunity. I know I also would not be here without the support of my co-workers, mentors and leaders at Chapman. I look forward to connecting with everyone in Indianapolis and further contributing to the growth of Division III communicators nationwide."