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Shawn Smith enters his second season as a graduate assistant in the Office of Athletic Media Relations at Bemidji State. Smith will serve as the primary contact for BSU volleyball, women's ice hockey and softball.

Smith comes to BSU after spending two years as an intern with the Athletic Media Relations department at the University of Memphis. While at the U of M, Smith was responsible for handling the publicity and promotion of Memphis' men's soccer and men's and women's tennis programs. He also assisted in the game-day operations for U of M's 17 other intercollegiate athletic programs. Smith's 2009 men's soccer media guide placed fourth in the nation according to the College Sports Information Director's of America. During his time at Memphis, he successfully promoted three CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selections and one Academic All-America selection.

Smith graduated in May of 2008 from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, with his bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication with an emphasis in public relations. While at Iowa State, Smith spent a year working in the athletic communications office where he served as the contact for the women's tennis program. At Iowa State, Smith also oversaw the completion of materials related to the Cyclones' 2008 football recruiting signing class.

Prior to working at Iowa State, Smith spent the summer of 2007 working as an intern in the Sports Information department at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a NAIA/Division III dual-affiliated institution located in Lincoln, Neb. While at NWU, he helped put together various media guides. He also put together the bios for the Prairie Wolves' 2008 Hall of Fame induction class.

Smith, 26, grew up in both Lincoln, Neb. and Hiawatha, Iowa (a suburb of Cedar Rapids). He has also volunteered during several events including the 2008 NCAA Women's First and Second Rounds in Des Moines, Iowa, the 2008 College World Series in Omaha, the 2009 NCAA Men's South Regional in Memphis, the 2010 NCAA Women's South Regional in Memphis, the 2009 and 2010 PGA Tour St. Jude Classic, 2009 and 2010 AutoZone Libery Bowl, as well as the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul. He has been a member of the College Sports Information Director's of America for the past three years.