SAN ANTONIO – UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos announced Monday the hire of Kirby Paulson as Associate Athletics Director for Fan Engagement. Paulson brings with him a strong background in the areas of ticket sales and community relations within professional sports.
“I am excited to welcome Kirby Paulson as our Associate Athletics Director for Fan Engagement,” Campos said. “One of the four strategic initiatives of the Roadrunner Game Plan is to Unite the Community. Kirby will be a tremendous asset for us as we work to engage our campus and connect our local and regional community to UTSA Athletics.”
Paulson joins UTSA from the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated from its prestigious Mendoza College of Business with his master of science degree in management – the nation’s fourth-ranked management master’s degree. Prior to attending business school, he spent five years working in professional sports in Boston.
“I’m excited to be joining an innovative and collaborative team here at UTSA,” Paulson said. “I look forward to connecting with the San Antonio community and providing a world-class experience for Roadrunner student-athletes, coaches, students and fans. Birds Up!”
Paulson began working with the Boston Red Sox as a Fan & Youth Engagement representative and team lead in 2017. He supervised, trained and maintained a team of staff members during games and events. He assisted the marketing department with special projects such as media coordination and tours, and worked alongside fellow staff members to create an immersive brand experience for all external stakeholders as part of the Red Sox Showcase.
In 2019, Paulson was named Employee of the Year for the Red Sox Fan & Youth Engagement Department and earned the 2019 Joseph McDermott Award for dedication, loyalty and excellence to the organization.
In March 2021, Paulson was elevated to the role of Ticket Services Associate and Assistant to the Executive Vice President. In that capacity, he managed 20-game season ticket package holders with customer service and experience. He connected with various VIPs and clients to assist them in securing regular season and postseason tickets.
Paulson joined the Boston Bruins Foundation in March 2022, supporting the planning, preparation and execution of events and in-game fundraising, including the Charity Bags program and charity golf tournaments. He was the managing captain for the 2022 Pan-Mass Challenge Team. Paulson oversaw social media efforts for the Boston Bruins Foundation.
Paulson holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University, where he served as executive chair of the Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network, operating athletics broadcasts, facilitating relationships with faculty and staff, creating content and producing a quarterly print magazine. He earned a master’s degree from Ohio University’s top-ranked sports administration graduate program.