Small Biz Series, presented by Triangle Media Partners, parent company of Durham Magazine and Triangle Digital Media Partners: Social Media Strategies and Creative Content Writing - February 2023

Join us virtually for an informative webinar on Social Media Strategies and creative writing tips for your small business.  

Featured presenter;
Ms. Ariel Germain, Director of Marketing and Communications for Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University

About Ms. Germain:
Ariel V. Germain is a proud two-time North Carolina Central University graduate with a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in journalism, a minor in English literature, and a master's of science degree in athletic administration.
 
The Detroit, Mich., native arrived at NCCU in the fall of 2002 as a women's volleyball student-athlete with aspirations to follow in her head coach's (Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree) footsteps to become a collegiate-level coach. After her undergraduate matriculation and as a heavily active member of the NC Central community and notching two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference titles, Germain set out on her collegiate athletic career. Making her first stop at North Carolina A&T State University, where she served as the assistant women's volleyball coach. After that brief stint, she returned to the Nest to re-engage her passion as a student of communication by working with the illustrious deputy athletic director for strategic communications, Kyle Serba. Under Serba's tutelage, Germain began her pathway into collegiate marketing and communications.
 
Her ambition and drive have led her to two stints at Howard University. Where she served as an assistant athletic director for sports information and an associate athletic director for external operations, both opportunities allowed her to showcase her talent for marketing, branding, storytelling, website content creation, gameday operations, and social media development. Her resume includes stints at the Catholic University of America, where she was the first black athletic administrator, Winston-Salem State University (athletic marketing director), and UNC Greensboro (marketing and communications director for student affairs).
 
Germain returned to NCCU to support the athletic department's marketing and development initiatives at the height of the global pandemic. Once again, under the direction of Dr. McCree, Germain helped the office of resource acquisitions development and implement the Stronger Together fundraising campaign to offset the loss of gameday revenue from the pandemic while retaining engagement. The year-long campaign raised $87,000 within the first 90 days and safely incorporated alums, student-athletes, and Eagle athletic administrators.
 
After a lengthy stint in collegiate athletics between divisions one, two, and three, Germain made a significant shift in her career into student affairs at the Nest. As the director of marketing and communications for the NC Central University Division of Student Affairs, she found a new niche that ignited a new passion for student engagement through communications.
 
In this role, Germain supports the Division's 21 departments, handles signature division events, and serves as the marketing and communications chair for the Ultimate Homecoming Experience.
 
Outside of her work duties, Germain is an active member of the Durham community. She works as an administrative volunteer for StrongHER Together's VillageHERs program. A non-profit organization in Durham, N.C., whose mission is to teach girls to stick together, no matter how different they are, and to use their collective power in the fight for equity.
She volunteers with StepUp Durham, a non-profit that provides free employment training services to Durham job seekers, especially those with challenges to gainful employment, as a resume editor.
 
Germain is a Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation board member and serves on the marketing and communications committee. She is also a member of the NC Central University Department of Mass Communication Public Advisory Council.
 
And lastly, she coaches scholastic-level volleyball with the Jammers Volleyball Club (Durham, N.C.) and is a former member of the Riverside High School (Durham, N.C.) volleyball coaching staff.
 
Germain is pursuing her Ph.D. in communications from Liberty University and attributes her drive and success to be the best representation of herself for her mother and younger sister.