Her Campus Media Partners with Opendorse to Launch Industry Certification Program Exclusively for College Athletes in the Creator Economy

The partnership will equip college athletes with the tools, training, and brand connections needed to build their personal brands and navigate NIL opportunities with confidence.

BOSTON, MA — June 10, 2025 —  Her Campus Media (HCM), the #1 Gen Z media and marketing ecosystem, has partnered with Opendorse, the leading athlete marketing platform, to launch Certified Influence: The Game Plan—an exciting industry certification program designed to empower college athletes with the skills, knowledge, and strategic support to elevate their personal brands, create compelling content, and secure lucrative brand deals in the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape.

As NIL rights continue to reshape the opportunities available to student-athletes, Certified Influence: The Game Plan provides a tailored roadmap to success, equipping athletes with essential training to navigate the ever-evolving creator economy. The partnership unites HCM’s proven expertise in Gen Z influencer marketing with Opendorse’s athlete network and best-in-class NIL technology, ensuring student-athletes receive both education and direct access to premium brand deals. This seamless integration supports athletes in building their presence beyond the field, court, or track, enabling them to establish themselves as influential creators in the digital era.

“From shattering records in the WNBA, to dominating the Olympics and Superbowl ads, there’s no question that this past year has been a game-changer for women’s sports,” said Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-Founder and CEO of Her Campus Media. “And in the new media and marketing economy, social media and content creation are the new currency–from our vantage point across our community of 100,000+ Gen Z creators across 2,000+ campuses with a social reach of well over 1 billion, we see clearly that college athletes have unique needs when it comes to thinking about themselves as creators. As the next generation of athletes rise to ‘center court’, it is crucial that they have the skills and tools to build and monetize their personal brands most powerfully, while harnessing the same authenticity and drive that leads them to excel on the field.”

To ensure Certified Influence: The Game Plan is tailored to the specific needs of student-athletes, the program will include sessions on:

  • Enhancing personal branding and community engagement as an athlete on campus

  • Balancing athletics with content creation

  • Mastering video and photo content

  • Positioning yourself for, securing, and executing successful brand collaborations,

and more.

“With 115,000 student-athletes on Opendorse, boasting over 280 million social followers, the impact of college athletes in marketing to Gen Z is unmatched,” said Steve Denton, CEO of Opendorse. The Opendorse network features more than 150,000 athletes total when including professional and former athletes. “Developing the skills to unlock this potential at scale led us to find a company that specializes in providing custom training and certifications to open new opportunities for student-athletes. That’s why we are excited to partner with Her Campus Media and their innovative team of Gen Z and influencer marketing experts. The power of women’s sports is undeniable, and this partnership will facilitate meaningful connections between top brands and college athletes.”

For more information on Certified Influence: The Game Plan, visit https://www.hercampusmedia.com/certified-influence

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About Opendorse

Opendorse is the technology, data, and service platform powering the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) industry for colleges, collectives, consumers, and commercial partners. More than 150,000 athlete influencers use Opendorse to build, promote, and monetize their personal brands through the largest athlete media network.


About Her Campus Media

Her Campus Media is the #1 Gen Z media and marketing ecosystem, reaching this generation better than anyone else across its family of media brands and communities, including Her Campus, College Fashionista, InfluenceHer Collective, Spoon University, Campus Trendsetters, and Generation Hired, with a highly curated community of 100,000+ creators, influencers, ambassadors, and student journalists across 2,000+ colleges. Her Campus Media provides award-winning integrated marketing programs that drive consumer engagement and loyalty for the world's leading brands. Her Campus has been named to Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies, Adweek's Campaign of the Year, and Entrepreneur Magazine's Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America among other accolades.

Her Campus Media