Georgia State University Athletics

Bree Hicken joined the Georgia State Panther Athlete Support Services (PASS) team as an intern in July 2014, advancing to Academic Coordinator in 2015 before moving into her current role as Assistant Director in 2019.

In addition to her administrative leadership, Hicken brings a well-rounded athletic perspective as a sports photographer, certified mental game performance coach, and former coach of youth, travel, and high school teams.

Throughout her time at GSU, she has proudly guided numerous standout individuals, including Academic All-District, Academic All-American, and Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar student-athletes. Her impactful mentorship is highlighted by Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar national finalist Dylan Williams, alongside Senior CLASS Award national finalists George Proctor and Matthew Fearnley. For her exceptional contributions to the department, she was honored as the GSU Athletics Administrator of the Year for the 2018–2019 school year and received the GSU Athletics Maria Urbina Award for the 2021–2022 academic year. Additionally, she was a member of the 2023–24 GSU Executive Leadership Academy for Women (ELAW).

While earning a degree in Communicating Arts with a coaching minor at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Hicken was a two-sport athlete representing the Yellowjackets on the golf course and the softball field. She also served as a Resident Assistant and Student Activities Board director. Her time at UW-S included working for the Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks of the professional Indoor Football League. In 2002, Hicken received her master's degree from Wisconsin-La Crosse in exercise & sport science with an emphasis in Sport Administration. While at UW-L, she was a member of the women's club ice hockey team and served as an officer on the Sports & Activities Club Council. Upon graduation she took an internship with the Georgia Student Hockey League before beginning an 11-year career in the golf industry.

An avid sports photographer, Hicken has captured action for various local youth soccer clubs, the WPSL’s Decatur FC, and the NPSL’s Georgia Revolution FC. Dedicated to the Panther community, she and her dad, Dennis, frequently use their sports photography to support GSU athletics both at home and on the road.