Division Leadership
Matt Santos
Vice President
University Relations & Athletics
Matt Santos has served as Vice President of University Relations & Athletics since Dec. 2017.
Santos is responsible for the overall guidance of a diverse division that encompasses University Relations, Marketing and Communications, Community and Government Relations, Conference Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Sports Medicine, KU Presents!, Kutztown University Radio, Recreational Services and Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center. Santos served as head of the division in an interim role prior to being named to the permanent position.
Santos had been the director of University Relations since 2007. In his position, he served as the university spokesperson and was responsible for public relations, media relations, executive communications, university licensing and crisis communications. He was chair of the award-winning KU Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2016.
Santos began his career with KU in 1992 as the sports information director for athletics. In 1998 he was promoted to director of athletic advancement before being promoted to assistant director of University Relations in 2006. Santos is credited with the creation of the school's current mascot, Avalanche the Golden Bear, in 2005.
He has experience in all levels of communication and fundraising at the university. Prior to KU, Santos held positions in sports information at both Lincoln and Delaware State Universities. He has also hosted a variety of television and radio programs and is the radio voice of Golden Bear Football.
Santos holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J., and a master's degree in electronic media from Kutztown University.
The division includes the departments of Intercollegiate Athletics, Community and Government Relations, KU Presents!, Marketing and Communications, the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center and Recreational Services and Athletic Resources.