Staff Directory
Rory Christiansen
- Title:
- Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
(Cross Country/Track, Swim & Dive, Beach Volleyball)
- Email:
Rory Christiansen joined the Waves in Summer 2025 as an Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant.
At Pepperdine, Christiansen is the Sports Information Director for cross country/track, swim & dive, and beach volleyball. He covered Lizzy Crawford's historic 2026 season, which saw her become the first female Pepperdine track athlete at an NCAA Regional. On the sand, his beach volleyball photography has received NCAA Volleyball 'Shot of the Week' honors on four occasions. Additionally, he has provided content for CBS News, the West Coast Conference, and The Malibu Times. During his tenure, he has spearheaded initiatives that increased the follower counts of the cross country/track and swim & dive Instagram accounts by more than two-thirds.
A 2025 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Christiansen earned a bachelor's degree in communication. During his time with the Gauchos he was one of just three student SIDs, serving as the main point of contact for men's and women's swim. Christiansen handled media credentials for the 2024 NCAA Baseball Regionals, the first-ever time UCSB had hosted such an event on campus. In the 2024-25 swim season he covered the school's two Big West conference championships. Prior to joining the athletic communications team, he was a student-manager for Gaucho men's basketball, helping train future NBA players Ajay Mitchell and Miles Norris.
Outside of sports, Christiansen performed as a member of the university's jazz ensemble on upright and electric bass. He also gigged with bands at numerous venues throughout southern and central California, including Aviator Nation Dreamland.
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Christiansen played varsity tennis at Palm Desert High School.
At Pepperdine, Christiansen is the Sports Information Director for cross country/track, swim & dive, and beach volleyball. He covered Lizzy Crawford's historic 2026 season, which saw her become the first female Pepperdine track athlete at an NCAA Regional. On the sand, his beach volleyball photography has received NCAA Volleyball 'Shot of the Week' honors on four occasions. Additionally, he has provided content for CBS News, the West Coast Conference, and The Malibu Times. During his tenure, he has spearheaded initiatives that increased the follower counts of the cross country/track and swim & dive Instagram accounts by more than two-thirds.
A 2025 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Christiansen earned a bachelor's degree in communication. During his time with the Gauchos he was one of just three student SIDs, serving as the main point of contact for men's and women's swim. Christiansen handled media credentials for the 2024 NCAA Baseball Regionals, the first-ever time UCSB had hosted such an event on campus. In the 2024-25 swim season he covered the school's two Big West conference championships. Prior to joining the athletic communications team, he was a student-manager for Gaucho men's basketball, helping train future NBA players Ajay Mitchell and Miles Norris.
Outside of sports, Christiansen performed as a member of the university's jazz ensemble on upright and electric bass. He also gigged with bands at numerous venues throughout southern and central California, including Aviator Nation Dreamland.
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Christiansen played varsity tennis at Palm Desert High School.
