2026 Special Awards Salute: Liza David - Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award
College Sports Information Directors of America
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Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award
Presented annually to an individual who is a pioneer in the field of athletic communications who has mentored and helped improve the level of diversity within College Sports Communicators. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
Liza David — University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Communications
"I am very humbled to receive the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award. Being a woman in a male-dominated profession is not easy, and being an Asian woman in a male-dominated profession is even harder. But I was fortunate to have had incredible role models who normalized this, beginning with my mother, who became a Colonel in the Air Force. Starting out as a young SID, leaders such as Barb Kowal, Debby Jennings, Mary Howard and Liz Abel showed how possible it was for women to hold esteemed positions in Communications. And I also had people like Lawrence Fan and Dean Caparaz to look to as fellow Asians excelling in this field. I hope that others can look to me and see the possibilities just as I did with those before me."— Liza David, 2026 CSC Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award recipient
Liza David has worked in the UCLA athletic communications office for more than 30 years. She first joined the department as a volunteer student in 1993, becoming a full-time intern after graduation in 1995 and then a full-time assistant director in 1996. In 2011, she took on a new role in the department as director of new media and has overseen the athletic communications office since becoming its director in 2013. David has served as lead communications director for the athletics department on four different occasions throughout her career and has been a member of the UCLA Athletics Executive Team since August 2023 as a senior associate athletics director.
The sports information director for 11 NCAA championship teams, David counts her work with the UCLA gymnastics team among her proudest professional accomplishments. She has grown the team's social media accounts to unprecedented levels, not just collegiately but across all of women's sports. As recently as 2025, only the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team had more Instagram followers than UCLA gymnastics (currently 426K). David received the UCLA Athletics Wooden Award for Distinguished Service in 2019 and was named the first winner of the College Gym News SID of the Year Award in 2021.
Gallery: (2-9-2026) Liza David, Mary Jo Haverbeck Award
Marc Dellins, UCLA Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director (Retired): "From her time as a student worker and an intern, it was obvious that Liza was going to be a star in the profession. I used to point to my office and say 'one day, this will all be yours' and Liza would laugh. Now she occupies my office. Liza excels at building relationships with her coaches, student-athletes and the media. Her efforts in gymnastics have helped many Bruin gymnasts go viral. An outstanding professional, Liza has been a bright shining light for women and minorities in a male-dominated profession and is certainly worthy of the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award."
Christina Munger-Rivera, UCLA Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Woman Administrator: "Being recognized with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award is such a fitting and well-deserved honor for a True Bruin like Liza David who has poured her heart and soul into elevating UCLA Athletics. She is a pioneer in every sense — leading with courage, mentoring with generosity, and intentionally opening doors so others can see themselves and succeed in the profession. Her commitment to diversity, inclusion, and excellence has shaped careers, strengthened the athletic communications field, and left a lasting impact far beyond Westwood. I am incredibly grateful to call her both a colleague and a friend, and I couldn't be more excited to see her passion, leadership and legacy recognized on a national stage."
William Bennett, UCLA Athletics Media Relations Assistant: "Liza David is DEFINITELY a PIONEER in the field of athletic communications who has mentored and helped improve the level of diversity within college sports communications."
Valorie Kondos Field, former UCLA Gymnastics Head Coach: "During my time as Head Coach of UCLA Gymnastics, our program included the best of the best in every area associated with our program, including our SID Liza David. Liza was a HUGE part of the success in UCLA Gymnastics becoming an international brand of athletic and social excellence. Liza guided us coaches and student-athletes in how to represent ourselves, our program and University with respect, enthusiasm and honesty. She was an incredible role model for all of us on how to stay true to ourselves in a world where everyone likes to make up your truth."
