Dear Colleagues,

As many of you know Tamica Smith Jones, director of intercollegiate athletics at UC Riverside, will be leaving us at the end of this month for a leadership position at Kennesaw State University Athletics in Georgia. 

I have asked Wes Mallette, currently senior associate athletic director for external relations, to serve as interim director of intercollegiate athletics.

I appreciate Wes’ willingness to step up in an important leadership role during a challenging time. 

He joined UCR Athletics in 2018 and among other responsibilities oversees all external relations, communications, marketing, fan experience, and events.

A former student athlete at James Madison University, Wes has extensive experience in intercollegiate athletics and the private sector. He served as associate athletics director at UC Berkeley, vice president of communications at Pac-12 Networks, and in corporate and brand communications roles at BET and Viacom.  

In addition to leading UCR Athletics, Wes will work closely with me, the Athletics Working Group, and its chair Brian Haynes in the next phase of its work determining the future of athletics at UCR. 

Please join me in thanking Tamica for her contributions to UCR Athletics and welcoming Wes to his new role.