Aaron Epstein arrived on back on The Hill in April 2023 as the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Championship Resources – Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.
Epstein is responsible for establishing the strategy and managing the execution of WKU Athletics' fundraising and outreach endeavors as well as helping manage WKU's partnership with Learfield IMG College and NIL initiatives. He also serves as the men's basketball sport administrator.
Most recently, Epstein served as an Associate Director of Development at Penn State between January 2020 and April 2023. He previously worked at WKU from 2017-20 as the Assistant Athletic Director of Development and Major Gifts.
Prior to his first stint at WKU, Epstein was at James Madison where he served as the Assistant Director of Athletics Development, Epstein primarily worked in cultivating and growing the Annual Fund, working with the “Rootin' Rewards” program, and assisting with cultivating of young alumni and student giving initiatives. Epstein also assisted in creating marketing and promotional elements for the Duke Club and oversaw the Social Media marketing efforts of the official fundraising arm for JMU Athletics.
Prior to arriving in The Valley, Aaron was at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., as the Coordinator for Athletics Annual Giving and VIP Programs. While working for Oakland, Epstein oversaw all aspects of the Golden Grizzlies Athletic Fund operations and all VIP Program activities; as well as donor fund cultivation, development communication and marketing, developing and implementing departmental special events, and working with all 18 Varsity Sports on sport-specific fundraising initiatives.
Before Oakland, Aaron was the Director of Marketing/Business Development & Game Presentation for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The Florida native has a Master's of Science in Sports Administration (Marketing minor) from Mississippi State University and a Bachelor's of Science in Hospitality, Recreation & Resort Management from the University of West Florida.
