Sophia Pleat is a photographer, athlete, and creative story teller. After graduating from the State University of New York at Potsdam, she will pursue her M.S. in Public Relations in Sports, Media, and Communications at the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University. She specializes in photography and continues to enhance her social media strategy.

As Head Sports Photographer for SUNY Potsdam’s Athletic Communications Department, Sophia collaborates with every varsity team at Potsdam. She alone coordinates and executes media days, edits, and senior days. Blending creativity with technical ability, she uses visual storytelling to elevate the college’s connection with the community.

She has been featured on The Lacrosse Network, Nocontentlacrosse, St. Lawrence Men’s Hockey, deethreelax, and d3hockey Instagram accounts. She has gained 1,500 followers and grew number of views by 247% total and 231% from non-followers for SUNY Potsdam Athletics and her personal page @spleat.shots.

A woman walking through a snow-covered forest with a camera hanging from her neck.
A female softball player in a maroon and white uniform standing at home plate during a game, holding a bat, with a catcher in gray and red gear and a helmet standing behind her. In the background, there are people watching behind a chain-link fence.

In addition to her work as a photographer, Sophia has been a colliegate athlete for the past three years. After her sophomore season, her team unanimously voted her Captain. Understanding how to shape culture, unify a group, and influence performance are concepts she takes into the sports media landscape.