Brian Sylva
How California Community College Sports Can Amplify the Academic Experience
Brian Sylva explores how California Community College sports amplify the academic experience. He argues that athletics serve as a powerful catalyst for student engagement, achievement, and personal growth across the state’s 104 athletic programs. Sylva highlights how sports programs actively reinforce essential skills—like leadership, discipline, and time management—which translate directly to career success. He demonstrates that when colleges invest in athletics as co-curricular programs, they amplify student voices, enhance retention and transfer rates, and elevate the entire educational mission.
Since joining College of the Desert in 2016, Brian Sylva has led the Sports Information Department, overseeing media relations, digital content, and storytelling for all 15 Roadrunner athletic programs. A former journalist for The Press-Enterprise and longtime Sports Information Director at San Bernardino Valley College, he brings extensive experience in communications, marketing, and digital strategy.
A respected leader in California Community College Athletics, Sylva served as President of the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) and received its B.R.A.S.S. T.O.P. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his lasting contributions to the profession.
Beyond athletics, Sylva is deeply involved in public service—currently serving on the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District Board of Trustees, with past leadership roles on the Beaumont USD Board and the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife have been married 20 years and are proud parents of twin daughters.