DALLAS (December 23, 2025): SMU Athletics named Kimberly Spino as Director of Trademarks and Licensing for Mustang Partners. A seasoned leader in collegiate licensing, Kimberly serves as the President of the International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA) for 2025-26. Spino has nearly 15 years of experience protecting and promoting university brands, most recently serving as Director of Licensing and Trademarks at Indiana University.
 
"We are excited to welcome Kimberly to the Hilltop," said Brian Ullmann, Executive Deputy Athletic Director. "She brings extensive experience in collegiate licensing and brand stewardship, and her leadership across multiple institutions will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow Mustang Partners and the SMU brand."

At Indiana University, Kimberly's team drove royalty revenue growth by more than 60% in three years and played a pivotal role in developing strong partnerships and unique branded products. Previously, as Brand, Trademarks, and Licensing Manager for the University of Texas System, Kimberly generated over $1 million in royalty revenue, consistently surpassing industry benchmarks and expanding retail opportunities across eleven institutions.

Her career includes roles at Sam Houston State and Adidas in various marketing, merchandise management, and partnership development roles. At Sam Houston State, Spino served as gameday director for seven sports, created targeted sponsorship proposals, managed merchandise sales, and inventory, and executed large-scale events for local licensees and campus buyers.

Her career began with a two-year internship at Adidas supporting the licensed property manager with a $3 million annual contract for UCLA Athletics, overseeing budgets for 22 sports, and organizing focus groups with student-athletes to support product development with international corporate teams. 
 
Spino holds a BA in History from UCLA and a Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University. She is also the first former National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) intern to serve as a NACDA Affiliate President.