Hometown: Southlake, Texas
Current Residential Location: Dallas, Texas
Graduation Year: 2019
Degree: Communications studies with a minor in general business
Current Occupation: Community Relations and Alumni Affairs Assistant for the Dallas Cowboys

Alumna Allie Christmann, a Southlake native, started her college years at Texas Christian University in 2014. Initially, she was hesitant about going to school so close to where she grew up, but received an entirely different experience than anything she could’ve ever imagined. “TCU feels like home in the classroom, at on-campus events, at football games; It feels like home the moment you step on campus.” Even as a graduate of TCU, she still feels involved because of their efforts to continue to include and update their alumni.

Christmann always knew she wanted to work in sports. “When I retired being an athlete in high school, I knew I wanted to continue in that industry,” she said. A huge reason she chose TCU was because of its Big 12 conference affiliation and small classroom size. She felt welcomed by the community of Fort Worth, a city that would be cheering on the Horned Frogs all season, no matter what sport. She not only loved the idea of seeing her peers on campus but also cheering on the Frogs together at sporting events. 

Christmann was involved in the TCU Football program during her first year, where she got to know the coaches and staff, as well as their love and passion for the sport. Christmann accepted an internship offer from the Dallas Cowboys in her last few years of college.

During Christmann’s senior year at TCU, she went from being an intern to taking on a part-time role with the Cowboys. “I didn’t have room or time to change my class schedule and still graduate on time, so I worked 29 hours a week, drove the two-hour commute three days a week, and took meetings in between classes. TCU did a terrific job working with my unique circumstances and not only prepared me for the next step in my career but also kept me focused and in tune with classes,” she said. “I graduated on a Friday and started full-time at the Dallas Cowboys that Monday. It was certainly a heavy load, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

Christmann’s official job title at the Dallas Cowboys is community relations and alumni affairs assistant. She assists with community events and initiatives and serves as a liaison between former Dallas Cowboys players in the club and the current team. She loves being a part of a department that brings the community together and gives people an outlet or platform to enjoy the team with the person next to them. “Going virtual has been a challenge to work through, but our organization faces challenges head on and comes up with creative ideas out of those circumstances. Engaging with our community is still just as effective; It just looks a little different.

“The last six months in quarantine, I have found what I am passionate about outside of my job at the Dallas Cowboys. My job is not my identity. I love to work and will continue to, but it’s not all that I am. I had to think about what else I wanted to get involved in outside the office, so I joined Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in August.”

This volunteer work gave her something that wasn’t tied to her 9-5 job, and where Christmann could invest her own time and attention. “It has been such a blessing, and I’ve gotten to contribute to so many things in my community with my program sister, and still have face-to-face interactions even in the midst of this pandemic.” She said that TCU, in the same way, does a good job of showing students that they have an identity outside of the classroom by promoting various opportunities for students to find themselves.

“Working at the Dallas Cowboys was my dream. A lot of kids grow up watching them on TV with their families,” Christmann said. “If you asked me five years ago where I would be after graduation, I would’ve had no idea.”

Christmann’s goal was to work for the NFL and knew it was a long road to get there, but she was willing to travel. “The Cowboys are a family environment. The Jones’ family has done a great job establishing a culture with family values,” she said. “Whether you win or lose, you show up to work as part of a team, on or off the field. I love it as much as I do because this is the same family environment that I loved so dearly at TCU.”

Click here for more information on the communication studies major.