Shawn Davis

Social Media Director @ University of Missouri

What’s the backstory of how you got into social media?

As a 2007 Mizzou graduate, I started by working with Michigan State's athletic department after graduation.

This gave me a solid foundation in sports communications, but it was when I returned to Mizzou Athletics that I really began to dive into social media.

In the world of college athletics, the role of a sports information director is really diverse.

As social media began to boom, it fell under our purview. We had to adapt and integrate social media into our overall communications strategy.

I had a knack for the medium and really enjoyed the creative and strategic aspects.

This led to my progression through the ranks eventually becoming the assistant athletic director for digital and social strategy.

This allowed me to really shape our social media approach in athletics, particularly focusing on how we could use these platforms for student-athlete recruitment and fan engagement.

The demands of working in college athletics are intense though.

The 70-hour work weeks, constant travel, and always-on nature of the job takes a toll.

As I was planning to get married in 2021, I realized it was time for a change.

That's when I transitioned to become the director of social at Mizzou.

What was your approach when you started?

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