SOUTH BEND, IN – The University of Notre Dame Athletics Department has finalized Fighting Irish Media’s Leadership Team with the hiring of Emma Schneider as the department’s first Creative Director (design). In her role, she will lead a group of talented designers and creatives to expand Notre Dame’s look and feel for fans around the world.
“We’re excited to have Emma join our team,” said Sr. Associate Athletic Director/Advisor to the Athletics Director Aaron Horvath. “Her unique thought process and skill set leading a creative unit will push our team to continue to be innovative leaders in everything we do.”
Schneider is the final piece of FIM’s Leadership Team, joining Associate Athletics Director (Strategic and Football Communications) Katy Lonergan, Director of Media Operations Jaye Galloway, Assistant Athletics Director (Media Partnerships, Distribution & Revenue) Alessandra Dickos, Assistant Athletics Director (Live Events) Derek Coleman, Assistant Athletics Director (Team Communications) Alan Wasielewski, Director of Student-Athlete Brand Development & Social Media Rachel Pincus, Director of Creative Video Jon Asher and Brand Director Tim “Oak” O’Connor.
“I am thrilled to join this incredibly talented team, which has been setting the standard within college athletics for years,” Schneider said. “The opportunity to elevate the stories of student-athletes, and contribute to one of the world’s best brands, is nothing short of remarkable.”
Prior to joining Notre Dame, Schneider was most recently the Director of Brand Design at the University of Central Florida (UCF) spearheading the design and implementation of a cohesive and distinct identity across 16 sports.
Additionally, she developed the creative concepts for digital, print, facility and secondary logo for the Knights. Her uniform design skills were honored with her team’s work researching, concepting and designing UCF’s “Space Game” jersey, winning UniSwag’s College Football Uniform of the Year in 2021.
In 2019, Schneider joined UCF as the Football Content Designer, leading design for UCF Football recruiting, as well as developing branding and graphics systems for use in social media, marketing, internal messaging, and more.
In addition to UCF, Schneider honed her skills as a graphic designer with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, The Walt Disney Company as an Associate Art Director through the Professional Internship Program within Disney Yellow Shoes and in agency design.
A graduate of Penn State’s (University Park) design program, Schneider lives in the South Bend, Indiana, area with her dog, Charlie.