BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Trinity Tatman and Ashtin Elder will join the Illinois Wesleyan University athletic communications department ahead of the 2026-27 school year, Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Marketing Katie Gonzales announced Tuesday, July 28. Kody Hofer will join Tatman as the department's assistant directors of athletic communications after earning a promotion from his postgraduate intern role, while Elder will shift into the role previously held by Hofer.
Hofer's promotion became official in early June, while Tatman and Elder will begin their duties Aug. 3. The trio join an office that includes Gonzales, live stream coordinator Tyler Wilson, graduate assistant Matt Sosler, and a robust student worker staff.
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Hofer joined the Titans' staff in the fall of 2025 after wrapping up his undergraduate work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Washington, Ill., native will take over as the primary contact for men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's bowling, baseball, and men's and women's golf.
"Kody's growth in his first year in our department made him a clear choice for this elevated role," Gonzales shared. "He has a tremendous work ethic and has really come into his own as a leader and mentor to our student workers. He has built genuine relationships throughout the department and I am thrilled to see him continue as a Titan."
Tatman comes to Illinois Wesleyan after a brief stint at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where she handled athletic communications oversight for women's soccer, men's and women's golf, and baseball. In her time with the Terriers, Tatman produced content for social media as well as the official Wofford athletics website. She served as the primary statistician for several sports while also honing her photography skills. A native of Broadlands, Ill., Tatman used her time at Wofford to build on her experience as an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, where she assisted with statistics and social media.
"Trinity rose to the top of a strong applicant pool," Gonzales added. "Her previous experience is built on a combination of the traditional aspects of the role alongside a creative approach to storytelling on social media that fits our office well."
Elder, a familiar face around the IWU campus, graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in May. An all-conference performer during his four-year career on the track & field team, Elder spent the past several years as a student photographer. During that time, Elder captured some of the greatest moments in Titan athletics history. He served as one of two main photographers at the NCAA Division III softball and women's volleyball championships in 2026, led coverage of the 2026 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Indoor Track & Field Championships, and many other high-profile events. He has been recognized by College Sports Communicators as part of the organization's Creative & Digital Design contests.
"Ashtin is one of the most talented photographers in collegiate athletics," Gonzales said. "We have been fortunate to see his growth and development first-hand over the past four years as a student in our office. I am excited to see him thrive in this new role and help lead our creative strategy."
