SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton announced three new staff additions and a revamped office structure for the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday.

The Summit League recently welcomed three new staff members with Grant Benson taking over as the director of sport and championship operations, while Tyler Sjuts joined the strategic communications department as an assistant director, and Ashleigh Lingo took over as the office manager following the retirement of Pam Schut.

Along with the staff additions, Fenton also announced that Aubrie Laufenberg will shift to the newly created role of director of digital content and strategy, while Emmy Wolfe will shift to an assistant director role in this area that also includes working with the Missouri Valley Football Conference as part of the Summit League’s joint venture with the Missouri Valley Conference.

“We are thrilled to add Grant, Tyler and Ashleigh to our team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our office and the conference,” Fenton said. “We are always looking for ways to improve our operations, and their additions, along with our broader focus on delivering impactful digital content will enhance the overall experience for Summit League teams and student-athletes.”

Benson brings a strong background in facility and event management, student development, and championship operations from his time at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). He most recently served as a graduate assistant for UNK Campus Recreation, where he oversaw facility operations, student staffing, and event coordination.

Prior to joining The Summit League, Sjuts was an athletic communications intern with Creighton University during the fall of 2024. He also brings experience as a sports information intern with Wayne State where he earned his undergraduate degree. While at Wayne State, he also volunteered with operations at the 2022 and 2023 Summit League Basketball Championships.

Lingo has wide variety of professional experiences across Sioux Falls, including stints at the University of South Dakota where she was a clinical instructor and director of the local dental hygiene clinic. She was also a business assistant at Harrisburg Family Dental.

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