Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst College athletic director Craig Barnett has announced the hiring of Lauren Packer Webster as the department’s Director of Sports Information. She comes to Mercyhurst from Allegheny College, where she was the Director of Athletic Communications and Sports Marketing.
Packer Webster is familiar with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the city of Erie. She worked at the PSAC offices from June 2006 through June 2008, serving as the Director of Media Relations from July 2007 through June 2008, before taking over her current position at Allegheny. As well, she was a graduate assistant in the sports information department at Edinboro University from January 2005 through May 2006, where she received her masters degree in communication studies. She is a 2004 graduate of Penn State, where she received her bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies.
At Mercyhurst, Packer Webster will be responsible for the sports information duties of 22 NCAA Division II sports and two NCAA Division I programs – men’s and women’s hockey.
Although her time at Allegheny was short, Packer Webster was responsible for oversight of the sports information department for 21 NCAA Division III sports. She handled marketing and sponsorship programs for the department, as well as designing, editing and publishing media guides and other recruiting materials.
At the PSAC, Packer Webster was responsible for all aspects of the media relations of the 14-institution league and its 22 NCAA Division II sports. At Edinboro, she worked within the sports information department in dealing with 13 NCAA Division II sports and NCAA Division I wrestling.
Along with those positions, she has served as a media relations volunteer for the State College Spikes, a Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliate, and a media relations assistant at the 2007 NCAA Division I women’s basketball Final Four.
“This is an exciting opportunity, especially given my history with the conference office,” Packer Webster said. “I’m looking forward to working alongside great administrators, coaches and student-athletes at Mercyhurst.”
Packer Webster is replacing Jason Knavel, who was named the Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Communications at Bowling Green State University, and she will begin approximately Dec. 1. She is married to Jeff Webster, the head athletic trainer at Penn State Behrend.
"Anytime you lose a valuable member of your staff you get nervous,” said Barnett. “Jason will be missed and did an incredible job of promoting both our teams and student-athletes. And then quickly, opportunity knocked for us in our own backyard with Lauren. She knows the PSAC and our community very well. I know Lauren will transition to becoming a big part of the Laker family quickly!"