Krysta Plato joined the athletics department's external relations staff as the Associate Director of Development in July of 2012.
Since Plato’s arrival at UCR, UC Riverside Athletics has seen a 132% increase in Athletics Association membership, and a 36% increase in fundraising revenues.
Plato joined the Highlander family from her alma mater, Eastern Washington, where she was the assistant athletics advancement director for five years. During her tenure at EWU, Plato was the primary annual gifts fundraiser for athletics. She oversaw the operations of their athletic association and worked in collaboration with Alumni Advancement and University Development to identify new annual and major gift donors.
Plato also brings customer relations experience in the travel industry, and will help sharpen the department's focus on the growing community of Highlanders athletics fan base.
She is an active member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) and is a two-year Diversity Initiative Award recipient.
Plato grew up in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and attended Kealakehe High School where she lettered in outrigger paddling.
