Alumni Spotlight

Associate Manager, Experiential Marketing
ESPN

Past sport industry experiences
– Fairfield County Sports Commission, Intern
– Special Events Intern, Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning
– Media and Google Analytics Independent Study, Elon University
– Community Events Board Director, Sport Management Society, Elon University
– Media Planning & Strategy Intern, ESPN
– Event Marketing Coordinator, ESPN

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
Elon’s Department of Sport Management fostered a strong sense of community, mentorship, and – most importantly – a passion for sports. Over my four years, each class, project and experiential opportunity allowed me to explore and gain insight into the many different facets of the industry. The department also provided a strong network of support with both classmates and professors, which created an environment where we guided, encouraged and motivated one another on both a personal and professional level.

Client Services Coordinator
Baltimore Ravens

Past sport industry experiences

– Client Services Internship, Baltimore Ravens
– Marketing, Fan Development & Activation Internship, Baltimore Ravens

What meant the most to you about your Elon Sport Management experience?
When I think back to my experience at Elon, I think about my professors. I wouldn’t be where I am without them encouraging me to believe in myself — like they believed in me. Being able to tell my professors now that I’m living my dream — knowing I am making them proud — is an accomplishment, and I owe it to them. Elon’s Sport Management program is one of a kind, and I will forever cherish my four years there. Long Building became a home. The friends I created through the program are some of my best friends, and the professors are still my mentors to this day.

Talent and Special Project Lead
Winstate Sports Consulting

Past sport industry experiences
The skills acquired at the various conferences and case studies I participated in while studying at Elon have been easily transferable to my current position. The practical experience developing a cohesive strategy or solution to a real-world scenario gained at those case study competitions was easily transferable to the work setting.

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
The Sport Management Department provided me with ample opportunities to prepare myself for life as an industry professional, whether it was undergraduate research with Elon’s varsity teams, conferences and case studies, networking events, among others. The professors were well-connected and committed to setting me up for success following graduation.

Head of Commercial Pre-Sales
Kambi

Past sport industry experiences
At Elon:
– Stadium Operations Intern, Greensboro Grasshoppers
– Intern, Sports Impact Limited, a marketing and PR firm with a variety of golf and tennis brands in the UK
– Marketing Intern, Octagon, a leading sports marketing agency
– Elon Athletics Facility and Events Administration

Post-Grad
– Competitive Intelligence Analyst, Kambi
– Pre-Sales Consultant, Kambi

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
One of the most valuable elements of the major is how connected all the classes are to current trends and industry news. When I started with the major, sports betting was several years away from legislation and I couldn’t have imagined working in this sector of the sports industry. The continuous exposure to industry developments and market trends we would dissect in the classroom is a huge reason for my career path now.

Director
Padukone – Dravid Centre For Sports Excellence

Past sport industry experiences
My internship and subsequent job at Campus Recreation at Elon gave me a great look into the day-to-day operations of a recreational center.

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
The Sport Management program at Elon is absolutely fantastic. It covers a vast array of topics giving students a taster of all facets of the industry. The faculty are absolutely amazing, with great industry experience and a network in the sports field. They genuinely want to see you succeed, and it is a great opportunity for anyone interested in getting into the sports industry! I would honestly say that more than anything the faculty and your cohort become your family by the end of the program, which is something that stays with you for life. Now years after graduating, I still follow the advice, support and teachings I received from the faculty.

Senior Manager, Live Experience
New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center (HBSE)

Past sport industry experiences
– T3 Lacrosse, Marketing & Business Ops Intern
– Gameday Tailgate Experience, Marketing & Sales Intern
– IMG College Elon, Game Day Assistant
– ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, Lead Volunteer
– New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center, Marketing Experiences Associate
– New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center, Coordinator, Live Experience + Production

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
The Department of Sport Management is such a special, close group of people who all share the same passion for sports. I learned so many valuable lessons from everyone in the department – not just my professors, but all my classmates as well. Each class was different and helped open my eyes to all the potential paths there are to make an impact in this industry. The internships, experiences and volunteer opportunities offered throughout my four years at Elon were the reason I figured out what I wanted to do and, ultimately, the reason I am where I am today. It’s awesome to see this department grow and it’s fun to watch fellow Elon students crush it in the sport industry. Lastly, it’s wonderful to still have a relationship with so many of my professors even years out of school. You can never stop learning no matter how many years of experience you have, and I’m grateful for the network I’ve made in this department.

Assistant Coach
Charleston Southern Baseball

Past sport industry experiences
Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston Bruins, USA Baseball, Inside Edge, Elon Baseball student data analyst, Elon baseball analytics club

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
Elon gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in meaningful experiences right away. This was key in me attaining my goal of getting an internship following my first year. The three significant experiences I got involved with right away were the intro course first semester, going to the Dominican Republic during Winter Term, and getting involved in the baseball analytics club. Nothing beats industry experience in our field with how much emphasis is put on networking. Having four different relevant internship experiences on my resume by the time I graduated gave me a major advantage, and I was able to find a job where I could learn and grow long term.

Manager, Minor League Operations & Player Education
Washington Nationals

Past sport industry experiences
– Summer 2016 Cultural Development Intern with the Kansas City Royals in the Dominican Republic
– Summer 2017 Minor League Operations/Cultural Development Intern with the Royals’ then rookie affiliate Idaho Falls Chukars
– Summer 2018 Intern in Baseball Development at Major League Baseball in New York
– Published research on Major League Baseball teams’ education efforts at their Dominican Republic Academies
– Volunteer Student Manager with Elon Baseball
– 2019 Player Development Intern with the Washington Nationals

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
The mentorship of the sport management faculty has meant the world to me. It began the first day I set foot on Elon’s campus, on a tour, still deciding which university I wanted to attend. I learned I could study the baseball industry in the Dominican Republic during Winter Term my freshman year. Because of the mentorship and support of those within the department, I went from being a young freshman with little direction to near-perfectly positioned for the job I wanted. The faculty has had a profound impact on my growth and are still present in my life today.

Visual Merchandising Specialist
Lululemon

Past sport industry experiences
I worked as an assistant merchandising manager for apparel (run/train) at PUMA Group. Additionally, I completed internships with Team Impact and the National Senior Games Association, and competed as a Division 1 track and field athlete at Elon University.

How did the Department of Sport Management prepare you for your career?
The program gave me hands-on, experience-based learning that enabled me to adjust seamlessly into real-world settings post graduation. The curriculum helped foster connections with each professor which had significant impact both in the classroom and beyond. They provided me with an opportunity to engage in experiences such as undergraduate research and internships to help broaden my knowledge in the industry.