PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the hiring of Bernadette Cafarelli, a 32-year veteran in collegiate athletics public relations, as the American Athletic Conference’s associate commissioner for communications.
 
Cafarelli comes to The American after spending the last 22 years at the University of Notre Dame, most recently as assistant athletics director/media relations.
 
“I am delighted to welcome Bernie as a member of our senior staff,” said Aresco. “She is extremely well-respected, not only by her colleagues at the institutional and conference levels, but also by national and local media. Her vast experience, perspective and expertise will greatly enhance our strategic communications efforts.”
 
Cafarelli joined the full-time staff at Notre Dame in 1994 as assistant sports information director and was promoted three times before assuming her most recent role as assistant athletics director/media relations. She oversaw a staff of nine full-time employees and 40 student assistants in the day-to-day publicity efforts for the Fighting Irish.
 
Cafarelli worked as the primary contact for Notre Dame’s men’s basketball program, while she coordinated game management operations for Irish football games, including press box management.
 
Before joining the staff at Notre Dame, Cafarelli served as assistant director of marketing, promotions and media relations at Providence College for eight years. She began her career as assistant sports information director at the College of William & Mary.
 
Cafarelli has served on the media relations committee for the NCAA Final Four since 2006, assisting with the wide-ranging media operations at the most prominent NCAA championship event. She has been a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America’s Academic All-America committee for 25 years, including the last three years as the committee co-chair.
 
Cafarelli earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Notre Dame and holds a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. She was the 2000 recipient of CoSIDA’s Lester Jordan Award, for outstanding contribution to the Academic All-America program, served on CoSIDA’s University Division Management Advisory Council from 2010-12, and was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2013.
 
Cafarelli will begin her duties at the American Athletic Conference in mid-January.