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Danai Gkogkosi

Danai Gkogkosi

DANAI GKOGKOSI

About Me

I'm an international student-athlete from Greece, currently swimming at a Division I university in Asheville, North Carolina. After 17 years in the sport and six years representing the Greek national team, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a dream I've had since I was young. Stepping outside my comfort zone has shaped who I am, teaching me resilience, discipline, and the importance of teamwork and leadership.

Beyond swimming, I'm passionate about marketing, especially public relations, because I love how communication, writing, and storytelling bring people and brands together. I've always enjoyed writing because every story has a different perspective, and I love finding ways to share it in a meaningful way. Through my Communications and Marketing Internship at UNC Asheville and my leadership roles with WSMA and SAAC, I've had the opportunity to explore these interests through interviewing, writing, content creation, and social media. I enjoy combining creativity with strategy to create content that connects with people, and I'm excited to continue growing in a field that brings all these interests together.

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Reels

Young people in the United States and Europe disengage from voting

The Blue Banner

Student-athletes struggle to keep everything under control

The Blue Banner

Reflections

Stories UNC Asheville

SYS: Affordable Housing

Stories UNC Asheville

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

INTERNATIONALS AGAINST THE CURRENT

2024, UNC Asheville Video Production class
I made this documentary for my Video Production class as a part of our non-fiction project. I was the producer and the editor of this documentary and we interviewed two international student-athletes about their obstacles they face when they move to the United States and how they have grown from it. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, sound equipment, lights and edited this video through Premiere and Adobe edition.

IGNITE

2024, UNC Asheville MCOM Strategic Communication course
I completed this video during my Strategic Communication class for the Giving Tuesday campaign. The name of the campaign was Ignite Impact and we raised money for our MCOM department. It was posted on the UNCA MCOM Instagram account and we achieved the campaign's goal which was 45 donors. I used a DSLR camera and edited this video through IMovies.

SAAC MONTHLY MEETING

UNC-Asheville, SAAC

SAVE THE DATE

UNC-Asheville, WSMA

WSMA LOGO

UNC-Asheville, WSMA

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

UNC-Asheville, WSMA

PROGRESSION

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

MEET THE FRESHMEN

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

MEET WEEK

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 50 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 100 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 200 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

EXPERIENCE

Education

Aug 2023 - 2027

University of North Carolina Asheville

Bachelor of Science in Business
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

  • Division 1 Student-Athlete

Work Experience

UNC Asheville Department of Communication and Marketing
Aug 2026 - Present

Communication & Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Department of Communication & Marketing

  • Create content for the UNC Asheville Stories platform, university website, and social media channels.
  • Write press releases, feature stories, promotional materials, and social media content to support university initiatives.
  • Assist with marketing and communication campaigns by conducting research, tracking media coverage, and preparing reports.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to increase audience engagement and promote university events and programs.
Jan 2025 - Present

Social Media Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Created engaging video and social media content for the athletic department
  • Increased social media engagement by 20% through targeted campaigns
  • Captured and edited game highlights, athlete interviews, and promotional material
  • Managed social media engagement and contributed to digital marketing strategies
Sports Marketing Intern
Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

Sports Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Organized and managed basketball game promotions to enhance audience engagement
  • Brainstormed and executed entertainment idea for game breaks to improve fan experience
Student Athlete Division 1
Aug 2023 - Present

Student Athlete Division 1

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Competed and trained 20 hours per week as w full-time student-athlete while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Fostered positive team environment with inspiration and positivity
  • Developed entertainment concepts for game breaks

Leadership

Women in Sports & Media Association
Jul 2026 - Present

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator (Executive Board Member)

Women in Sports & Media Association (WSMA), UNC Asheville

  • Generated 25,000+ content views and reached 3,400+ unique viewers within the first few weeks of the organization's launch.
  • Earned 338 content interactions, with 71.8% of views coming from non-followers, expanding brand awareness beyond the existing audience.
  • Develop and manage promotional content for Instagram and LinkedIn to increase engagement and promote events and professional development opportunities.
  • Collaborate with executive board members to plan marketing initiatives and strengthen the organization's online presence.
Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee
Aug 2026 - Present

Creative Director & Officer

Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee (SAAC), UNC Asheville

  • Lead creative and branding efforts for student-athlete initiatives and events.
  • Design digital content and promotional materials to increase student-athlete engagement.

Skills

Canva
Sports Videography
Time Management
Team Building
Recruiting
Leadership Development
Social Media Content Creation
Athlete Branding
Content Creation
Adobe Premiere Pro
iMovie
English (Full Professional)
Greek (Native)