Former women’s basketball standout Christina Richson ’22 leverages her experiences as a student-athlete and communications assistant into a blossoming career in athletic communications at Harvard University.
Working full-time in athletic communications at Harvard University, former women’s basketball standout Christina Richson ’22 credits her time at Gettysburg College—both on and off the court—for preparing her to thrive in the fast-paced, multifaceted world of Division I athletics.
The Summit, New Jersey, native and graduate of Summit High School led Gettysburg’s women’s basketball team on three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament and a Centennial Conference championship in 2022. As a business, organizations, and management major, she also worked as a student assistant in the Office of Athletic Communications.
“That combination taught me time management above all else,” Richson said. “Balancing basketball, work, and academics helped me get used to the long hours that come with college athletics. I knew going into this job that weekends and late nights would be part of it—but if you love it, it doesn’t feel like work.”
Encouraged to explore all areas of the Bullets communications team, Richson built a diverse skill set being hands-on with stats, social media, graphic design, writing, and photography.
“Working at Gettysburg, I had the opportunity to try everything,” she said. “It helped me figure out what I was good at and what I enjoyed most.”
Academically, Richson appreciated the flexibility and breadth of her major, which helped her develop an analytical mindset and creative thinking skills. Faculty across campus pushed her to think critically, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively as a team.
“Being surrounded by students and faculty from all kinds of academic disciplines pushed me to think more broadly,” she said. “That ability to adapt, ask questions, and approach problems from different angles is incredibly valuable in communications.”
Richson’s postgraduate journey began with a yearlong internship at Harvard, an opportunity that gave her immediate responsibility of several varsity teams, including men’s tennis as well as men’s and women’s squash and sailing. With confidence built on the varied experiences she had at Gettysburg, Richson took her new responsibilities head on, leading the communications efforts for several nationally-ranked athletic programs.
"What's nice about Harvard is the SID job really encompasses everything—social media, video, photography, traditional media relations—so I get to do a bit of it all," she noted.
Richson’s work was so impactful that she was offered a full-time role after one year. She now oversees media relations for men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball and serves as the primary contact for the women’s basketball team. This past season, Richson covered the Crimson’s historic season on the court, which culminated in its first Ivy League Tournament championship and first trip to the NCAA Division I Championship in 18 years.
“Getting to travel with the team, capturing content, and telling the story when they beat nationally-ranked Indiana at Indiana—that was one of those unforgettable moments,” Richson said. “It was incredible to be a part of it all and see the progression of the team.”
Looking ahead, Richson is considering pursuing a master’s degree and taking courses through Harvard Extension School. While she’s not sure where the road will lead, she knows she wants to stay in college athletics.
“I love the energy, the people, and the purpose,” she said. “Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow, supporting my teams, and doing the work that makes the big moments shine.”
Recently, Gettysburg announced the addition of a new major and minor in communication studies. While Richson adapted a more general route to get into the communications field, she’s excited about the opportunities the new major will present to make entry into the profession more efficient for future students.
“I think it’s really good because communications is such a popular field of study,” Richson noted. “It’s nice that students who know they want to go that route can now study it specifically. Having that focused option will open even more doors for students.”
Find your passion for storytelling through our new major in communication studies.
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By Corey Jewart
Photo courtesy of Christina Richson ’22, Harvard Athletic Communications, Gettysburg Athletic Communications
Posted: 08/19/25