About
For Brandon Vedder ’16, the relationships, lessons and experiences he gained at Carroll College became the foundation for a career dedicated to creating those same life-changing opportunities for other student-athletes.
A Business Administration and Finance graduate, Brandon was a member of the Fighting Saints football team from 2011–2016. Some of his favorite Carroll memories are rooted in that experience—from team Mass the Friday before every home football game to an unforgettable walk-off win against Montana Tech in September 2016.
But when Brandon reflects on his years at Carroll, it’s the people who stand out most.
“I experienced much-needed personal growth at Carroll College, and it was the people—professors, teammates, friends and fellow classmates—who helped show me the way and helped me get to where I am today,” he said.
Building a Career in College Athletics
Today, Brandon is a Senior Gift Officer and Team Lead with the Spartan Athletics Foundation, an affiliate of Michigan State University Athletics. In his role, he manages a team of four development officers covering the southwestern United States.
It’s the latest chapter in a college athletics career that has taken Brandon across the country.
After graduating from Carroll, he spent a summer working for the Helena Brewers before heading to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he completed a dual MBA and Master of Science in Sport Management program. While in graduate school, he gained experience working in athletic development at UMass as well as Boston College.
From there, Brandon continued building his career through development roles at Appalachian State, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Syracuse University and Michigan State University. In the years since leaving Carroll, his career has taken him from Montana to Massachusetts, North Carolina, Alabama, New York and, now, Michigan.
Brandon is also actively involved with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). His professional accomplishments include receiving the Blackbaud Prime Officer Award in 2020, being selected for the NAADD Bobby Purcell Mentor Program in 2025, and serving as a 2025–26 NAADD ACC Co-Conference Representative.
Creating Opportunities for Student-Athletes
For Brandon, the most rewarding part of his career brings him back to his own experience as a Carroll student-athlete.
“Helping student-athletes gain the same experience I did—a life-changing, life-building experience that fuels their lives after their athletic careers—is incredibly rewarding,” he said.
He also values the relationships at the heart of athletic development.
“I love connecting with fans, donors, supporters and businesses around the institutions I work for and learning their stories.”
His Carroll education helped prepare him for both sides of that work. Being a student-athlete taught Brandon the importance of teamwork and time management, while his business education gave him a strong foundation for a career in sports business and an understanding of the value of building meaningful internal and external relationships.
Memories and Relationships That Last
Brandon now lives in Okemos, Michigan, with his wife. They have been married for three years, and his career in college athletics is now entering its 11th year.
Despite the many places his career has taken him, his Carroll memories remain close—from Friday team Mass and football victories to watching Zac Taylor hit a memorable buzzer-beater for the Saints men’s basketball team.
Most importantly, Brandon remembers the relationships he formed with people from different places and backgrounds and the role those relationships played in shaping who he became.
His advice for today’s Saints reflects his own Carroll experience:
“Carroll will help you grow into the person and professional you want to be if you let it. Go Saints!”
