Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Liberty on September 13, 2025 , Tie , 0, to, 0
MSOC
Final
James Madison
0
at Liberty
0
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Duke Club Welcomes New Staff for 2024-2025
10/4/2024 10:00:00 AM | Duke Club, Administration
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Jame Madison's Duke Club, the fundraising arm of JMU Athletics, features multiple new faces for the 2024-2025 academic and competitive year joining the team led by Associate Athletic Director for Development, Scooter Renkin.
Â
"The Duke Club staff assembled by Scooter Renkin is an energetic, passionate and motivated group," JMU Director of Athletics Matt Roan said. "I'm excited to welcome each of them individually as each brings a unique skill set and winning characteristics. However, it's as a group that the sky is truly the limit for what they can achieve, as I believe Scooter has constructed an impressive team that can take our fundraising efforts to another level, which is necessary to sustain the success JMU Nation deserves. It's a crucial time to be sure that we're maximizing our potential to best position our department, and we have the right team in place to do it with the Duke Club and under Scooter's leadership."
Â
"The additions of Alex, Sean and Mia to the Duke Club staff has already proved fruitful in the short term for JMU Athletics," Renkin said. "Not only are all three of them incredible team members, they also understand the importance of putting the student-athlete experience first."
Â
Alex Marinelli joined the Duke Club in August as director of major gifts following three years at Furman as director of athletics development.. In his role with the Paladins, Marinelli was responsible for all aspects of the Furman Athletics Fund, amassing $42.9 million in philanthropic commitments over the course of his tenure. Before Furman Marinelli served as annual fund coordinator for the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M, which followed one year as assistant to the AD at Villanova. A native of Hyde Park, N.Y., Marinelli received his Bachelor of Science in sports medicine from Marist College in 2019, where he also competed as a baseball student-athlete.Â
Â
Sean Gordon fills the role of senior development officer for the Duke Club following two years in athletic development at Central Washington, while also mixing in experience in compliance. He was a football student-athlete at Central Washington and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology in 2022 prior to a master's degree in 2024.
Â
Virginia native Mia Garrett serves as assistant director of events and donor stewardship for the Duke Club. Most recently, she worked with Virginia Tech football, assisting with on-campus recruiting and player and alumni engagement. She earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in communications in 2024.
Â
In addition to the three new full-time staff members, Daria Afanasyeva and Kennedy Brooks began graduate assistant roles. Afanasyeva was a women's tennis student-athlete at JMU, graduating from the Hart School in 2022. Brooks graduated from Howard in 2022 with a degree in public relations and sport administration.
Â
While not new to the Duke Club, Ashley Doyle serves in a new capacity following a promotion to director of internal operations and events. She was event coordinator for the Duke Club the last two years after also filling previous roles as a graduate assistant and as an assistant for JMU Athletics' Dukes Lead program.
Â
The new faces for the Duke Club join Associate Athletic Director for Development Scooter Renkin, Athletic Development Officer Dillon Thomas and Administrative Assistant for External Operations Alana Dean.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
"The Duke Club staff assembled by Scooter Renkin is an energetic, passionate and motivated group," JMU Director of Athletics Matt Roan said. "I'm excited to welcome each of them individually as each brings a unique skill set and winning characteristics. However, it's as a group that the sky is truly the limit for what they can achieve, as I believe Scooter has constructed an impressive team that can take our fundraising efforts to another level, which is necessary to sustain the success JMU Nation deserves. It's a crucial time to be sure that we're maximizing our potential to best position our department, and we have the right team in place to do it with the Duke Club and under Scooter's leadership."
Â
"The additions of Alex, Sean and Mia to the Duke Club staff has already proved fruitful in the short term for JMU Athletics," Renkin said. "Not only are all three of them incredible team members, they also understand the importance of putting the student-athlete experience first."
Â
Alex Marinelli joined the Duke Club in August as director of major gifts following three years at Furman as director of athletics development.. In his role with the Paladins, Marinelli was responsible for all aspects of the Furman Athletics Fund, amassing $42.9 million in philanthropic commitments over the course of his tenure. Before Furman Marinelli served as annual fund coordinator for the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M, which followed one year as assistant to the AD at Villanova. A native of Hyde Park, N.Y., Marinelli received his Bachelor of Science in sports medicine from Marist College in 2019, where he also competed as a baseball student-athlete.Â
Â
Sean Gordon fills the role of senior development officer for the Duke Club following two years in athletic development at Central Washington, while also mixing in experience in compliance. He was a football student-athlete at Central Washington and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology in 2022 prior to a master's degree in 2024.
Â
Virginia native Mia Garrett serves as assistant director of events and donor stewardship for the Duke Club. Most recently, she worked with Virginia Tech football, assisting with on-campus recruiting and player and alumni engagement. She earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in communications in 2024.
Â
In addition to the three new full-time staff members, Daria Afanasyeva and Kennedy Brooks began graduate assistant roles. Afanasyeva was a women's tennis student-athlete at JMU, graduating from the Hart School in 2022. Brooks graduated from Howard in 2022 with a degree in public relations and sport administration.
Â
While not new to the Duke Club, Ashley Doyle serves in a new capacity following a promotion to director of internal operations and events. She was event coordinator for the Duke Club the last two years after also filling previous roles as a graduate assistant and as an assistant for JMU Athletics' Dukes Lead program.
Â
The new faces for the Duke Club join Associate Athletic Director for Development Scooter Renkin, Athletic Development Officer Dillon Thomas and Administrative Assistant for External Operations Alana Dean.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
JMU Women's Soccer | Dukes Draw with Coastal Carolina
Tuesday, September 16
JMU Football | Win this game.
Thursday, September 04
JMU Football | All Eyes Back on Bridgeforth
Monday, September 01
JMU Football | Enough talk, let's ball.
Friday, August 29
