Fresh off a stint as a graduate assistant for the Office of Athletic Marketing & Information, Amy Hafer has taken on a new title within the Department of Athletics at Heidelberg University. Funded through a grant from the NCAA, Hafer has thrived in her role as the Coordinator of External Operations.
Her charge? Internally, it's to help connect Athletics with other departments through new ventures and reinvigorating old ones. Externally, she'll guide partnerships with community leaders and local businesses, aiming to better bridge the town-and-gown relationship.
Hafer's position, which started in August, was ambiguous at first. Through her own sense of inventiveness, and guidance from Athletic Director Greg Cooper, the job has come into focus.
"My goal is to engage the Heidelberg and Tiffin communities in ways that interact with Athletics, in hopes of benefiting everyone involved," said Hafer. "Greg has given me a great deal of freedom to think creatively, and we've come up with unique ideas."
In addition to incentivizing early-season student attendance at home athletic events, Hafer played a critical role in the wildly successful Beer Garden at last weekend's football game. The new gig has helped Hafer see the city of Tiffin in a new light.
"Like a lot of students, I think I undervalued everything Tiffin has to offer," said Hafer, who earned her undergraduate degree in 2022 and her MBA in 2024. "Working with local businesses to find fun ways to promote both them and us has been enjoyable."
The two-year grant also includes professional development opportunities for Hafer, the first of which was a trip to the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis to learn many different skills that she will apply in this role.
"Amy is full of energy and has a keen sense of what resonates with our students," said Cooper. "Partners on and off campus who are looking to harness the potential of 'Berg students and student-athletes will find in her a willing collaborator. She has a unique skill set to make a big impact."
As a student, Hafer was a guard on the Women's Basketball Team for three years, a sousaphone player in the Heidelberg Marching Band for two years, and a member of the Zeta Theta Psi women's society. The athletics-music-Greek life combination is exceedingly rare at Heidelberg, and gave Hafer a unique vantage point.
"Traditional sponsorships and ad placements are great, but in this position, I want to go beyond that," said Hafer, a native of LaRue, Ohio. "Let's work together to create some distinctive partnerships!"
Individuals and organizations wishing to join forces with Hafer in this new role can email her at ahafer [at] heidelberg.edu.