Began at Illinois:
January, 2018 (also employed from 1997-2010)

Education:
Arner received her bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in sports administration from University of Southern Mississippi in 1995.

Job Responsibilities:
Arner has the primary responsibility of sport administration oversight for four of Illinois Athletics programs – men’s and women’s tennis, women’s gymnastics and wrestling. She also oversees the management of the Atkins Tennis Center and Illinois in-venue and online merchandising programs.

Past Experience:
Arner returned to Illinois for her second stint in the DIA in January of 2018, where she initially oversaw Illinois' external efforts in athletic communication, marketing and fan engagement, Fighting Illini Productions video services, and strategic brand management.

From 2024-25, she transitioned to manage gameday for Illinois' 21 sports. She oversaw marketing and fan engagement, live video productions, event management operations, concessions, in-venue merchandising, premium seating, and special events and hospitality. 

Arner returned to Illinois in 2018 after seven years at the Auburn University Athletics Department where she was responsible for the oversight of crisis and internal communications, and content creation efforts through War Eagle Productions video department, digital and social media, graphic design and photography.
 
Arner joined Auburn after serving as the Associate Athletic Director for Communications at the University of Houston (2010-11).

During her first stint at Illinois from 1997-2010, Arner served as the football sports for 13 years, working with the sport during the Ron Turner and Ron Zook eras.

She also worked in the athletics public relations offices at Mississippi State (1995-96) and Virginia Tech (1996-97).

Personal:
A native of Mobile, Ala., Arner has one son, Cleve. 

Updated August 2025