Los Angeles-based Occidental College athletics announced on 8/18/2025 that it has entered a partnership with FanWord, a storytelling and Artificial Intelligence technology company that works with more than 100 athletics organizations. The agreement centers on FanWord Assist, a platform designed to help athletic communications teams produce written content more efficiently. FanWord Assist covers a broad set of needs, from game recaps and feature stories to player bios and alumni spotlights, enabling the department to expand its output without sacrificing editorial quality.
´We are incredibly excited for this partnership with FanWord,´ said Shanda Ness, director of athletics. ´Our student-athletes do amazing things everyday and FanWord will help our athletic communications team share more stories than ever before, while maintaining quality.´ The college framed the move as part of a broader push to modernize digital engagement and to bring more of the student-athlete experience into view for fans, alumni and prospective students. Occidental will use the platform to deepen connections across its community and to highlight the academic and athletic journeys that define the Tigers.
Christopher Aumueller, ceo of FanWord, emphasized the company´s enthusiasm for the collaboration. ´We´re incredibly proud to welcome Occidental College to our growing network of partners,´ he said, acknowledging the school´s reputation for excellence both on and off the field. FanWord positioned its software as a tool to make storytelling faster and more consistent, freeing staff to focus on higher-value, human-centered reporting. The technology aims to create operational efficiencies while preserving the nuance that matters in feature work and profiles.
Occidental´s announcement frames the partnership as more than a software purchase; it is a strategic investment in communication capacity for a Division III program. Whether honoring the legacy of Tiger alumni or bringing fans closer to today´s teams, the college expects FanWord Assist to transform how it tells stories and engages supporters. FanWord remains active across multiple levels of college sports, and the Occidental relationship expands its roster of small-college partners seeking scalable content solutions.
