(Savannah, Ga. and Lincoln, Neb. – Oct. 3, 2026) – Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announced a new partnership with Opendorse, the leading Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) technology, data, and service provider. A member of The Sun Conference in the NAIA, SCAD will give its student-athletes the tools, education, and support to build personal brands that reflect both their athletic careers and their creative work.
Through a branded SCAD NIL Marketplace, every athlete will have one profile that brings together their athletic story and their creative portfolio. Many SCAD student-athletes study design, film, photography, animation, and other creative disciplines, working in the same tools professionals use across the industry, and the marketplace gives fans and brands a single place to see all of it.
Brands that partner with SCAD athletes can get original photography, video, and graphic design produced by the athletes themselves. Businesses in Savannah and Atlanta, along with brands across the creative industry, will have a direct and compliant way to connect with Bees athletes through the marketplace, a searchable athlete database, and an opportunity board where athletes can find and apply for deals.
"Our commitment is to provide our student-athletes with the resources, education, and opportunities necessary to thrive in today's evolving collegiate athletics landscape," said Amanda Haverstick, SCAD Executive Director of Athletics. "Opendorse's platform strengthens that commitment by giving our athletes the infrastructure and support to strategically manage their name, image, and likeness while developing valuable skills that extend beyond their athletic careers. This is an investment in our student-athletes, their futures, and the continued growth of our athletics program."
SCAD athletes will also have access to on-demand NIL education, expert-led webinars, and premium video content on contracts, marketing, taxes, personal finance, and brand development, including intellectual property and copyright topics that carry extra weight for artists and designers.
Athletics staff will have a centralized media library to organize and publish content, compliance tracking with real-time dashboards, a performance dashboard to measure NIL activity, and a dedicated success manager to guide the program.
"Every athlete has a story to tell, and SCAD athletes have the skills to tell it themselves," said Jake Daugherty, Director, Collegiate Partnerships at Opendorse. "This partnership gives them the tools and education to turn that talent into NIL opportunities."
SCAD joins a growing list of NAIA institutions investing in NIL, and its student-athletes arrive with creative training that brands can put to work right away.
About Opendorse
Opendorse is the technology, data, and service platform powering the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) industry for colleges, collectives, consumers, and commercial partners. More than 200,000 athlete influencers use Opendorse to build, promote, and monetize their personal brands through the largest athlete media network.
For media inquiries, contact Opendorse Manager, Marketing and Social Media Blake Schaben at blake.schaben@opendorse.com
