Wisconsin announces staffing updates in Brand Communications department
July 18, 2022 | General News
Herb assumes Director role, Badgers add Kelly and Burda
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Athletics has named Patrick Herb Director of Communications and Brand Strategy. A veteran of 14 seasons at Wisconsin and over 20 years in the sports industry, Herb will oversee the department's Brand Communications, Website and Graphic Design departments. The Badgers also announced the addition of Meg Kelly as an Assistant Director of Brand Communications/Creative Content and Jessica Burda Leslie returning to a role as the department's Digital Content Editor.
Since 2019, Herb has served as the Director of Brand Strategy at Wisconsin, playing a central role in several department-wide external relations initiatives, including Covid-19 response, Badger Legacy Campaign, diversity and inclusion as well as the transition of athletic director leadership. Herb has also served as the brand manager for UW's men's basketball program and led the Badgers men's basketball communications efforts from 2008-2019.
Herb has also served as the sideline reporter for the Wisconsin Radio Network's broadcasts of Badgers football games since 2009 and has regular segments on the network's football and men's basketball radio pregame shows. From 2014-2016, Herb also served a consultant to UW Athletics Director and College Football Playoff committee member Barry Alvarez, attending each of the first three CFP championship games. Prior to Wisconsin, Herb spent seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2001-07), most recently as the manager of media relations.
Kelly joins the Badgers and will oversee the department's communications efforts for women's basketball, women's soccer and women's tennis. She will also be assisting with the department's content creation across social media, video and photography.
A native of Reading, Mass., Kelly spent last season at UConn as the primary communications contact for women's volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's rowing. Kelly also served as a creative content specialist and the department's staff photographer at UConn. Prior to that, Kelly spent four years on the communications staff at Boston University working alongside current Wisconsin women's basketball coach Marisa Moseley among other sports.
Kelly played softball at Rhode Island and has also spent time during her professional career at the Northeast Conference, Harvard University and Loyola Marymount.
A UW Athletics department staff member since 2016, Burda returns to UW Athletics after a stint as the Director of Brand Marketing for an external professional rugby league (Premier Rugby Sevens). Burda will oversee the department's website and internet presence as well as the Wisconsin Badgers app. Burda previously served as the Director of Brand Communications at Wisconsin from 2019-2022 and Director of Digital Content from 2016-19.
Burda began her professional career with Wisconsin Athletics as a sports information assistant from 2002-04. She worked in both the public and private sector in Madison, including communication and marketing for the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and as a research communication specialist for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
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Since 2019, Herb has served as the Director of Brand Strategy at Wisconsin, playing a central role in several department-wide external relations initiatives, including Covid-19 response, Badger Legacy Campaign, diversity and inclusion as well as the transition of athletic director leadership. Herb has also served as the brand manager for UW's men's basketball program and led the Badgers men's basketball communications efforts from 2008-2019.Herb has also served as the sideline reporter for the Wisconsin Radio Network's broadcasts of Badgers football games since 2009 and has regular segments on the network's football and men's basketball radio pregame shows. From 2014-2016, Herb also served a consultant to UW Athletics Director and College Football Playoff committee member Barry Alvarez, attending each of the first three CFP championship games. Prior to Wisconsin, Herb spent seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2001-07), most recently as the manager of media relations.
Kelly joins the Badgers and will oversee the department's communications efforts for women's basketball, women's soccer and women's tennis. She will also be assisting with the department's content creation across social media, video and photography.
A native of Reading, Mass., Kelly spent last season at UConn as the primary communications contact for women's volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's rowing. Kelly also served as a creative content specialist and the department's staff photographer at UConn. Prior to that, Kelly spent four years on the communications staff at Boston University working alongside current Wisconsin women's basketball coach Marisa Moseley among other sports.
Kelly played softball at Rhode Island and has also spent time during her professional career at the Northeast Conference, Harvard University and Loyola Marymount.
A UW Athletics department staff member since 2016, Burda returns to UW Athletics after a stint as the Director of Brand Marketing for an external professional rugby league (Premier Rugby Sevens). Burda will oversee the department's website and internet presence as well as the Wisconsin Badgers app. Burda previously served as the Director of Brand Communications at Wisconsin from 2019-2022 and Director of Digital Content from 2016-19.
Burda began her professional career with Wisconsin Athletics as a sports information assistant from 2002-04. She worked in both the public and private sector in Madison, including communication and marketing for the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and as a research communication specialist for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
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