Ripley, Henson Promoted to Full-Time Roles
8/12/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
Both hires previously got start as student assistants in SFA Athletic Department
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Elysa Ripley as the new Director of Creative Video and Cale Henson as the new Assistant AD for Facilities, Game Operations, & Event Management. Both Ripley and Henson are May 2026 graduates of SFA.
Elysa Ripley
Ripley is no stranger to the SFA community, having previously served as a student assistant for creative video. She honed her skills in videography, photography, and social media marketing while collaborating with SFA coaches and athletes to produce compelling content across the university's 16 NCAA teams' social media accounts.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Marketing with a minor in Business Management from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she was a recent graduate in the spring of 2026.
Ripley's professional experience extends beyond her time at SFA. She has worked as a Social and Digital Media Marketing Intern at Banita Creek Hall, where she managed campaigns and created promotional content for events, in addition to gaining experience as a photographer and videographer for the business. Additionally, Ripley served as a volunteer photographer at the NCAA Division III National Championship and at the Texas Children's Houston Open.
In Ripley's new role, the Deer Park, Texas native will leverage her expertise and passion for storytelling through creative video to elevate the visibility and narrative of SFA Athletics. Her personal connection to the university is evident, as she expressed, "Coming back to Stephen F. Austin State University in this role is an incredibly special opportunity for me. SFA played such an important role in shaping who I am both personally and professionally, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to give back to the University that gave me my start. I'm looking forward to telling the stories of our student-athletes, coaches, and programs through creative video and helping showcase what makes SFA Athletics so special."
Cale Henson
Henson brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having dedicated six years to the field of collegiate athletics. He most recently served as a Graduate Assistant for Operations at SFA Athletics. During his tenure, he coordinated the end-to-end planning and game-day execution for multiple sports, including soccer, volleyball, football, and men's and women's basketball. His responsibilities also included maintaining facility schedules, leading pre-event meetings, and supervising student staff, demonstrating his strong leadership and organizational skills.
Henson is a proud SFA alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from SFA.
In his new position, Henson will oversee the day-to-day operational needs of SFA Athletics, including game management, facility scheduling, event staffing, and the coordination of athletic events across the department. His responsibilities will include working with coaches, staff, and campus partners to ensure facilities and event operations are prepared and organized for competition. Henson will also assist with scheduling and operational planning throughout the year, helping coordinate the logistics that support SFA's athletic programs and their student-athletes.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, the Center, Texas native stated, "I'm incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue my career at Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA has played a major role in my growth both personally and professionally, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue serving our student athletes, coaches, staff, and fans. Being from East Texas, it means a lot to me to be able to stay close to home and continue my career at a place that has given me so much. I'm excited for what's ahead and can't wait to see you all in Nacogdoches. Axe 'Em, Jacks!"
Elysa Ripley
Ripley is no stranger to the SFA community, having previously served as a student assistant for creative video. She honed her skills in videography, photography, and social media marketing while collaborating with SFA coaches and athletes to produce compelling content across the university's 16 NCAA teams' social media accounts.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Marketing with a minor in Business Management from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she was a recent graduate in the spring of 2026.
Ripley's professional experience extends beyond her time at SFA. She has worked as a Social and Digital Media Marketing Intern at Banita Creek Hall, where she managed campaigns and created promotional content for events, in addition to gaining experience as a photographer and videographer for the business. Additionally, Ripley served as a volunteer photographer at the NCAA Division III National Championship and at the Texas Children's Houston Open.
In Ripley's new role, the Deer Park, Texas native will leverage her expertise and passion for storytelling through creative video to elevate the visibility and narrative of SFA Athletics. Her personal connection to the university is evident, as she expressed, "Coming back to Stephen F. Austin State University in this role is an incredibly special opportunity for me. SFA played such an important role in shaping who I am both personally and professionally, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to give back to the University that gave me my start. I'm looking forward to telling the stories of our student-athletes, coaches, and programs through creative video and helping showcase what makes SFA Athletics so special."
Cale Henson
Henson brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having dedicated six years to the field of collegiate athletics. He most recently served as a Graduate Assistant for Operations at SFA Athletics. During his tenure, he coordinated the end-to-end planning and game-day execution for multiple sports, including soccer, volleyball, football, and men's and women's basketball. His responsibilities also included maintaining facility schedules, leading pre-event meetings, and supervising student staff, demonstrating his strong leadership and organizational skills.
Henson is a proud SFA alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from SFA.
In his new position, Henson will oversee the day-to-day operational needs of SFA Athletics, including game management, facility scheduling, event staffing, and the coordination of athletic events across the department. His responsibilities will include working with coaches, staff, and campus partners to ensure facilities and event operations are prepared and organized for competition. Henson will also assist with scheduling and operational planning throughout the year, helping coordinate the logistics that support SFA's athletic programs and their student-athletes.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, the Center, Texas native stated, "I'm incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue my career at Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA has played a major role in my growth both personally and professionally, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue serving our student athletes, coaches, staff, and fans. Being from East Texas, it means a lot to me to be able to stay close to home and continue my career at a place that has given me so much. I'm excited for what's ahead and can't wait to see you all in Nacogdoches. Axe 'Em, Jacks!"
#AxeEm
Thursday, April 23
Monday, April 06
Monday, March 30
Friday, March 20
