Pilar Ballough joined Vanderbilt Athletics as a communications specialist in February 2023 and was promoted to assistant director that May before being named strategic projects manager in February 2026.

A 2023 graduate of Vanderbilt, while a student Ballough worked as a social media intern for the athletic communications department and a research assistant for the Communication and Language Lab. She was also a student ambassador for the school’s office of immersion resources, and has also worked as an administrative manager and assistant area supervisor for the Kennywood Park department of operations.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Ballough was a member of Vanderbilt’s concert choir and served as a transfer student leader for the university’s transfer connect program. She received her degree in medicine, health and society and also had a minor in English literature.