Steve Mest has been a member of the Athletics staff since the fall of 1998.

He was named to his current role of Associate Athletics Director for External Relations in June 2007. The 1991 St. Bonaventure graduate is responsible for fund-raising including major gift solicitations, the Bonaventure Athletic Fund annual appeal and the Corporate Partner program. Mest also oversees the department's marketing, promotions, special events and licensing as well as media relations.

Mest was Associate AD for Communications from 2005-07 and was Assistant AD for Communications from 1998-2005.

During his eight years as primary publicist for the Bonnies' nationally-recognized men's basketball program, St. Bonaventure had 11 players earn All-Conference honors and three achieve All-District recognition. He worked with the 2000 NCAA Tournament team and two more clubs that played in the NIT.

Under his direction, St. Bonaventure has partnered with College Sports TV On-Line for all of its on-line ventures including the Department's Web site, www.gobonnies.com, and the new "Bonnies All-Access" audio and video platform. In the 2004-05 year, www.gobonnies.com was listed among the top 20 most-visited collegiate Web sites in its class.

Mest also helped create the Bonnies Radio Network for men's basketball, which includes partner stations in Buffalo and Rochester as well as the Coach Anthony Solomon Radio Show, the first of its kind at St. Bonaventure.

Mest also serves on the Department's Strategic Planning committee, chairs the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, assists in event management and serves on personnel selection committees.

Off campus, Mest was named the chair of the Atlantic 10 Conference's Golf Championship Committee for the 2005-06 year.

Mest also has served as an adjunct professor in the Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure since 1999 and an adjunct professor in the School of Business since 2005.

Prior to joining St. Bonaventure, Mest worked at Allegheny (Pa.) College for six years as Sports Information Director, also adding responsibilities in marketing and promotions. He earned three national publications awards from CoSIDA including two "Best In The Nation" and was chief publicist for 27 All-American football players. Mest also was assistant golf coach at Allegheny for two years, helping the program to top-five finishes at the NCAA Division III Championship both seasons and coaching six All-Americans.

A native of Reading, Pa., Mest earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure in 1991 and a master's degree in Professional Leadership from St. Bonaventure in 2004. He was a member of the Bonnies golf team for three years and captained the squad his senior year.

Mest and his wife Angela have three children, Sammy (5), Anna (3) and Joey (born Aug. 30, 2007).