HMB e-News

Welcome Associate Athletic Director Jen Barsell!

As Husky Band director, I want to introduce you to the  UW athletics department administrator who recently began overseeing the band and spirit program. As many Husky Band supporters are aware, the band is rare among college marching bands in that it is entirely housed within—and largely funded by—the UW’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Jen Barsell began her duties as associate athletic director of marketing and fan engagement early last summer, when she was hired by former Athletic Director Scott Woodward. As part of her responsibilities, Jen not only oversees all aspects of the athletic department’s marketing wing, but the band and spirit programs as well. Jen comes to the UW from Major League Baseball in New York City. Prior to MLB, she spent three years at Boston University where she also oversaw their marketing department.

Prior to working at BU, Jen worked for over 11 years with the San Diego Padres, leading all of the organization’s marketing efforts. During her tenure at the Padres, Barsell oversaw record-setting marketing and branding initiatives that generated the four highest attendance totals in the Padres’ 40-year history, including a franchise-best 3,016,752 season attendance count in 2004.

In addition to her tenure with Major League Baseball, Barsell also has experience working in the National Football League and work experience in college athletics. From 1997 to 1998, she served as marketing coordinator for the San Diego Super Bowl Host Committee while working for the San Diego Chargers. Additionally, she assisted with planning and executing corporate marketing initiatives for San Diego State University’s athletics department.

Jen received her M.B.A. (marketing emphasis) in 1996 and a bachelor’s degree (accounting and finance concentrations) in 1994, both from California State University, Chico.

Since starting her position less than a year ago, Jen has enthusiastically given an immense amount of energy and time in gaining firsthand knowledge of everything the band and spirit programs bring to the UW community. I hope that you will all join me in welcoming Jen Barsell to the UW athletics department and to the Husky Band and Spirit family!