July Duhawk Dozen
Katie Gonzales (’14)
Sport Management & Mathematics
Springfield, IL
Katie Gonzales (’14) has built an impressive career in collegiate athletics. She has dedicated her collegiate, graduate, and profession to ensuring that the achievements and stories of student-athletes receive the recognition they deserve. These reasons and more, make her our July Duhawk Dozen recipient!
As a first-generation college student visiting Loras, Katie had her mind set on becoming a high school math teacher. It wasn’t until she sat down with her admissions counselor, Scott Stran (’99), that she knew anything about the Sports Management world. He encouraged her to talk to professor of sports management Dr. Matt Garrett, and the rest was history. Getting involved right when she stepped onto campus and having key influences set her up for success in the collegiate sports arena and early in her career.
Loras emphasizes real-world learning in each of their majors and Katie took full advantage of the opportunities the Sports Management program offered. “I have had the opportunity to intern with the Dubuque Fighting Saints Hockey Team and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. Sometimes figuring out what I want to do is trying something and saying, ‘that was cool, but I do not want to do that long term.’ The big turning point for me was interning with the Loras Sports Information Department.” As a senior, Katie became the Assistant Director of Athletic Communication where her love for collegiate athletics continued to evolve and pushed her to Eastern Michigan University for her master’s degree in sport management, and eventually to Illinois Wesleyan University, where she currently serves as the Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Communications.
Katie’s journey in collegiate athletics has been committed to supporting the student-athletes she works with. Her passion for her work is evident in the positive impact she has had at each institution she has been a part of. From her initial involvement at Loras College to her current role at Illinois Wesleyan University, Katie continues to inspire and elevate those around her.
Listen to Katie’s full podcast with Young Alumni Advisory Board president, Allison Wong (’17), and past Duhawk Dozen podcasts here.
