PORTFOLIO

Danai Gkogkosi

Danai Gkogkosi

DANAI GKOGKOSI

About Me

I'm an international student-athlete from Greece, currently swimming at a Division I university in Asheville, North Carolina. I've been a swimmer for 17 years and proudly represented the Greek national team for six of those. Swimming has shaped who I am, teaching me discipline, resilience, teamwork, time management, and leadership. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of moving to the U.S. to study and compete as a Division I athlete, and I made that dream come true. Coming to the States pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Beyond swimming, I am passionate about marketing, with a particular interest in public relations. I love how PR combines communication, storytelling, and advertising to build meaningful connections between brands and their audiences. It's the perfect mix of creativity and strategy, which is what draws me to the industry. I also enjoy creating content for Instagram and TikTok, not just for fun but with a strategic mindset. Whether it's developing social media campaigns, producing engaging visuals, or telling stories through digital content, I love creating content that connects with people while supporting a brand's goals.

Download Resume

PORTFOLIO

As the Videography & Social Media Intern for UNC Asheville Athletics, I created engaging video and social media content that helped boost engagement by 20%. I filmed and edited game highlights, athlete interviews, and promotional materials, and contributed to the department's digital marketing strategies. This experience taught me how to create content that audiences enjoy and helped me understand what types of posts are most appealing and effective in capturing attention.

My publications in The Blue Banner

I managed the Instagram account for the swim and dive team, creating graphics and content to promote the team and engage our audience.

Reels

Young people in the United States and Europe disengage from voting

The Blue Banner

Student-athletes struggle to keep everything under control

The Blue Banner

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

INTERNATIONALS AGAINST THE CURRENT

2024, UNC Asheville Video Production class
I made this documentary for my Video Production class as a part of our non-fiction project. I was the producer and the editor of this documentary and we interviewed two international student-athletes about their obstacles they face when they move to the United States and how they have grown from it. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, sound equipment, lights and edited this video through Premiere and Adobe edition.

IGNITE

2024, UNC Asheville MCOM Strategic Communication course
I completed this video during my Strategic Communication class for the Giving Tuesday campaign. The name of the campaign was Ignite Impact and we raised money for our MCOM department. It was posted on the UNCA MCOM Instagram account and we achieved the campaign's goal which was 45 donors. I used a DSLR camera and edited this video through IMovies.

TOP TEN TIMES 50 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 100 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 200 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

EXPERIENCE

Education

Aug 2023 - 2027

University of North Carolina Asheville

Bachelor of Science in Business
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

  • Division 1 Student-Athlete

Work Experience

Women in Sports & Media Association
Jul 2026 - Present

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

Women in Sports & Media Association (WSMA), UNC Asheville

  • Develop and execute social media content to promote events, workshops, and member engagement.
  • Create marketing materials and branded graphics to strengthen the organization's visual identity.
  • Manage Instagram content strategy, campaign planning, and community engagement.
  • Collaborate with the executive board to increase awareness of WSMA's mission and campus presence.
UNC Asheville Department of Communication and Marketing
Aug 2026 - Present

Communication & Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Department of Communication & Marketing

  • Create content for the UNC Asheville Stories platform, university website, and social media channels.
  • Write press releases, feature stories, promotional materials, and social media content to support university initiatives.
  • Assist with marketing and communication campaigns by conducting research, tracking media coverage, and preparing reports.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to increase audience engagement and promote university events and programs.
Social Media Marketing
Jan 2025 - Present

Lifeguard

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Ensured the safety of swimmers by monitoring pool activities and enforcing safety rolls
  • Provided emergency response and first aid when needed
  • Taught water safety practices and assisted with swim instruction
Jan 2025 - Present

Social Media Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Created engaging video and social media content for the athletic department
  • Increased social media engagement by 20% through targeted campaigns
  • Captured and edited game highlights, athlete interviews, and promotional material
  • Managed social media engagement and contributed to digital marketing strategies
Sports Marketing Intern
Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

Sports Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Organized and managed basketball game promotions to enhance audience engagement
  • Brainstormed and executed entertainment idea for game breaks to improve fan experience
Student Athlete Division 1
Aug 2023 - Present

Student Athlete Division 1

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Competed and trained 20 hours per week as w full-time student-athlete while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Fostered positive team environment with inspiration and positivity
  • Developed entertainment concepts for game breaks

Licenses & certifications

Issued Dec 2024 ยท Expires Dec 2026

American Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate

University of North Carolina Asheville

Issued Jan 2024

Personal Branding Certificate

University of North Carolina Asheville

Skills

Canva
Sports Videography
Time Management
Team Building
Recruiting
Leadership Development
Social Media Content Creation
Athlete Branding
Content Creation
Adobe Premiere Pro
iMovie
English (Fluent)
Greek (Native)