Sport Management  News

The 2025 Syracuse Name, Image, and Likeness Summit is a first-of-its-kind event organized by students for student-athletes. The Syracuse NIL Summit will bring Syracuse University student-athletes together with corporate brands for an event consisting of networking, education, and NIL development.

GEN Agency and GEN NIL founder and CEO Rachel Maeng Brown, the 2024 CEO of the Year in Influencer Management and NIL Education, will present brand deal case studies and lead a content creation workshop with products from W by Jake Paul. Additionally, the Global Sports & Entertainment Wealth Management sector of Morgan Stanley will educate student-athletes about financial literacy.

The NIL Summit will take place from 12 to 2:30 p.m. March 28 in Grant Auditorium at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University.

“The Syracuse NIL Summit demonstrates the impact and innovation of Falk College and its students,” says Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan. “This event is another example of the collaboration we have with Syracuse University Athletics to provide Falk students with learning experiences beyond the classroom, and it will directly benefit Syracuse student-athletes with an educational opportunity with NIL industry leaders that includes on-site brand activations at a time when NIL is redefining collegiate sports.”

This exclusive student-athlete event is designed to bridge the gap between business leaders and encourage Name, Image, and Likeness partnerships. Accordingly, the attendees will gain valuable insight into NIL deal structures, financial literacy, personal branding strategies, and partnership opportunities.

Corporate representatives will engage directly with student-athletes to build connections for potential collaborations. For example, the content creation station for student-athletes will have every student-athlete leave the event having activated a unique NIL deal with W by Jake Paul.

“We are grateful for the opportunity for our student-athletes to learn from industry leaders and participate in NIL activations,” says Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “The partnership we have with Falk College is expanding in many areas, including this event, led by its students, to help provide our student-athletes with continued education to ensure they are well-prepared to navigate and maximize their NIL opportunities.”

The 2025 Syracuse NIL Summit is presented by Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in partnership with the Syracuse Sport Group and Syracuse University Athletics.

After students from the Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University captured back-to-back undergraduate team titles at the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship in 2023-24, the program had just one more mountain to climb: An individual championship.

Late last month in Nashville, Tennessee, sport analytics major Jonah Soos ’25 reached that pinnacle by winning the championship in the undergraduate business analytics division.

“It was awesome,” Soos says. “Any time you can win a national event of this caliber against steep competition, it’s an incredibly validating feeling for the work you put in.

“I was so proud to represent Syracuse and the Sport Analytics program and all the time and effort they put in to cultivating the best rising talent in sports,” Soos adds. “I can’t give them enough credit for the work they’ve done and opportunities they’ve given me, so to give back and increase the exposure of the program is always something I enjoy doing.”

The Syracuse University undergraduate team of Soos, Piper Evans, Madelyn Forster, and Hunter Geise just missed a three-peat by finishing a narrow second to the team champions from the University of Iowa. Graduate analytics students Andrew Odnoralov and Owen B. Brown also participated in the competition for Syracuse.

Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor Rodney Paul and Sport Analytics Program Coordinator Jackie Dorchester accompanied the students to Nashville and mentored the group, and Soos praised Paul, Dorchester, and Director of Corporate Partnerships and External Engagement Francesco Riverso for “making opportunities like these a possibility.”

“Our group did an excellent job in a challenging and exciting event,” Paul says. “Jonah, as always, was incredible; calm and poised in the heat of competition. He’s truly a superstar as he makes it look so easy. You can almost see ‘the game’ slow down when you hear him present and see the literal art he creates with data. It is amazing to witness.

“We are so lucky to have a talent like Jonah in our program,” Paul says. “We’ll miss him after graduation, but I can’t wait to watch his career unfold.”

Soos, who is minoring in economics and sport management, has worked as a baseball analytics intern at Wasserman, a baseball talent agency, and he’s currently a data engineering intern for the Syracuse University men’s basketball team. This past August, after presenting his research on pitchers at the Saber Seminar in Chicago, Soos was approached by several Major League Baseball teams was hired by the Cincinnati Reds as a baseball analytics trainee for the 2025 season.

We reached out to Soos to learn more about his experience in Nashville and what it took to become a national champion. Here’s that conversation:

What was the format for the individual and team competitions at the National Championship?

It was set up in a March Madness-style bracket, starting with 64 students in 16 different rounds of four students, and two students advanced from each round. Points were awarded for teams for every round a student advanced and totaled over each section (undergraduate and graduate) once the competition concluded to create the team standings.

As students, we presented our five-minute presentations to a room of judges each round, and if selected in the top two, we moved on to face other students until a winner-take-all final four in front of the entire conference. The first day was used for data analysis and the heats, and the second day was for the final four and a networking challenge.

What was your “assignment,” and were you given any advance notice of what you would be doing?

Our assignment was analyzing PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) social media data provided by Zoomph to create analytical insights about ways the brand can continue to grow and expand. We were provided sample data and a study guide ahead of time to think through the question and understand the data. Most questions on the study guide were very broad and built to give a lot of flexibility for interpretation and analysis, leading to the true assignment of creatively interpreting the data to find critical data-driven insights.

What was your reaction when you received your assignment?

I definitely felt like the competition played into my strengths. My favorite part of data analysis is the storytelling component–placing data in context to find actionable insights and key takeaways that anyone can understand. In this format with quick presentations and limited time, you really have to be at your best and cut the fluff, only giving judges quick hitters to make a cohesive story.

Can you explain what kind of data you received, what you needed to analyze, and how you went about that?

We received data from different social media platforms for each PWHL team tracking post reach, engagement, and platform-specific effects. We were given roughly four hours to create the data-driven insights and build a presentation before everything was locked and no changes could be made.

That sounds nerve-wracking. What was your strategy under such a tight deadline?

When looking at the practice information, I was lacking some direction and only prepped different functions to clean the data and get it into a usable format. At 6 a.m. on the morning of the competition, I had an idea almost slap me in the face: It was super simple but innovative and I knew I could tell a compelling story. I don’t know a lot about hockey, so I placed myself in the shoes of the PWHL social media managers and asked how I would engage myself. Considering I would be new to the brand, if the post reached a lot of people like me, and I interacted or engaged with the post, I would deem that as the most successful since you’re broadening your fanbase while also generating active fans.

I entered looking to build something to fit that narrative and took the four hours to execute it, and found some interesting results. The hardest part was probably the time constraint itself, as when you’re working through a problem like this, it’s hard to manage your time effectively and execute all your ideas in such a short window. I found myself constantly pushing my own boundaries to work quick and thorough, having to focus to overcome different errors, challenges, and kinks in my analysis. Finishing the project was a win in itself, and when I looked back and saw the visual and analytical quality I generated, I was proud of myself! I felt I set myself up for success.

How was the data judged and how was it determined that you were the champion of the undergraduate division?

Each round, you would give your five-minute presentation to judges (more judges each round as you progressed), answer some questions, and wait outside as each competitor did the same. It was grueling–you had no idea whether you were scraping by in the hot seat or flying through–but there was a fun sense of camaraderie between all of the competitors, and I made some really awesome connections with people.

The first round was definitely the hardest; you had never given your presentation before and had very little prep time, so I was definitely the most nervous walking out of that presentation. As the rounds went on, I was in a flow state and felt every time my presentation got stronger and stronger up until the finals. The final round, unlike the previous ones, was a winner-take-all from the four students that advanced through the elite eight. That was the first real chance to size up your competition, see what everyone had done, and I was impressed with how vastly different each presentation was despite having the same data and objectives. Judges then voted on the order of the final four presentations, and I was fortunate enough to be crowned champion.

From your experiences at Syracuse University and Falk College, what is it about the program that prepares you to have this kind of success at the national level?

The Sport Analytics program is revolutionizing education in sport. To have the opportunity to so frequently interact with alumni in the industry, learn using real world data, and practice and compete against peers to build a collective wealth of knowledge, it’s what leads us to win all these competitions. I’ve learned so much from everyone around me–my peers, mentors, professors, and industry professionals–and without that experience, there is no way I would be where I am.

To learn more academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities in sport analytics, visit the Falk College Department of Sport Management website.

Major League Partnership

Food & Fun

Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Kalamata’s Kitchen

A veteran sommelier and fine-dining professional, Sarah Thomas is now the co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Kalamata’s Kitchen, where she brings together her lifelong passions for both food and books. The daughter of two south Indian immigrants, Sarah grew up in the rural town of Somerset, Pennsylvania, and was surrounded by food from a young age. Her parents very much kept their Indian culture alive through the food they cooked, and Sarah would spend summers in Kerala visiting her grandparents, forming some of her earliest food memories.

Sarah’s love for food is what eventually led her to the hospitality industry. After launching the nationally-recognized Wine Room at Bar Marco, she spent nearly six years as a sommelier at 3-star Michelin Le Bernardin, where she obtained the prestigious Advanced Sommelier certification. Along with food, books played a special role in Sarah’s upbringing, eventually leading to a Masters in literature from the University of Cambridge.

Like many first generation children, Sarah grew up with what she felt were two conflicting identities, with her strong Indian heritage seeming to contrast against the mostly white rural town where she lived, and literature became a way for her to escape into another world. Through her storytelling work with Kalamata’s Kitchen, Sarah hopes to create a confident character that other children of color can see themselves in, while also encouraging all children to look at different foods and cultures with a sense of curiosity and compassion. Sarah has authored two books in the Kalamata’s Kitchen series, with an animated series in development.

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Industry Leader at Falk

22/02/25

Head of U.S. Division of Italian Soccer League Meets With Falk College Students

Andy Mitchell, managing director of Lega Serie A USA (the American division of Italy’s preeminent soccer league), recently visited Falk College to speak with students in the SPM/SAL 300 “Italian Football: Impact and Outcomes” class. The course includes a spring break trip to Italy, where the students will meet with Serie A organizations and other industry leaders while learning about the culture of Italy.

We asked sport analytics major Sebastian Bush ’27 about this opportunity to meet Mitchell and ask questions ahead of the Italy trip. Here’s what he wrote:

“When I heard about the opportunity to visit Italy over spring break and learn about the traditions associated with Italian calcio, or soccer as we know it, I knew I had to sign up. The class, ‘Italian Football: Impact and Outcomes,’ isn’t just about the trip, though, it’s an exploration of what makes Italian soccer so unique.

“For example, on Feb. 14 we had the incredible opportunity to hear from the CEO and managing director of Lega Serie A USA, Andy Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell spoke about his upbringing and early sports fandom, his career path that led him from CNN to Meta, and finally his journey to working in the highest levels of soccer and sports marketing.

“Mr. Mitchell credited his early experience in the digital landscape as a major factor in his career success. He recounted being ‘the last man in the pecking order’ as a young employee at CNN and therefore being handed digital and website responsibilities that no one else wanted. He found that area of development interesting, and it led him to ultimately becoming vice president of digital marketing and partnerships.

“It wasn’t until a few years ago, however, that Mr. Mitchell found his way back to sports. He had never been a huge soccer fan, but after learning about the game, both he and his family quickly became infatuated with it. He was ‘obsessed’ and soon set a goal to work in the industry. Now, over one year into his job at the U.S. office of Serie A, the premier soccer competition in Italy, Mitchell has expanded the league’s reach throughout North America.

“His passion for spreading calcio across the United States is clear: From newsletters to corporate partnerships to social media and community-driven campaigns, Mitchell and his small staff have achieved quite a lot. Getting to hear about the complexities of these deals as well as Mitchell’s day-to-day responsibilities and challenges was an amazing glimpse into the elaborate world of Italian soccer.

“One highlight of Mr. Mitchell’s talk was hearing his insight into how he and his colleagues support Serie A teams and players in United States-based initiatives. For example, he talked about working with Puma and the agent for U.S. Men’s National Team star Christian Pulisic to build the Pulisic Stomping Grounds, a community-forward philanthropic effort to support youth soccer across the country.

“This was just one of the many efforts Lega Serie A USA has been involved with and it’s a great example of some of the incredible work that goes on behind the scenes. Overall, Mr. Mitchell’s talk provided invaluable context about the landscape of Italian soccer and helped prepare us for the upcoming trip to Italy later this semester. We can’t thank Mr. Mitchell enough for taking the time to speak with our class.”

Visit the Falk College website to learn more about academic programs, career opportunities, and immersion trips in the departments of Sport Management and Sport Analytics.

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Bei Tempi!

20/02/25

Sport Analytics Team Discusses Trip to Italy on SU Abroad Podcast

A team from the Sport Analytics program in Falk College recently appeared on the “Identity Abroad with Syracuse Abroad” podcast to discuss the upcoming immersion trip to Italy for the “Italian Football: Impact and Outcomes” course that explores how data is revolutionizing soccer.

For the podcast, sport analytics major Zachary Silverstein ’26 was joined by Program Coordinator Jackie Dorchester and Francesco Riverso, the Director of Corporate Partnerships and External Engagement in Falk College who helped create the trip to Italy as program manager for Sport Analytics.

To listen to the podcast, visit the Identity Abroad web page (S2 E5).

Silverstein, Dorchester, and Riverso discuss the success of last year’s inaugural trip through Rome, Milan, Florence, and Bologna and what’s new for this year. They talk with student host Sebastian Talib ’25 about once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunities, opening international sport to Falk students, and, of course, amazing Italian food!

Visit here for a story with photos and videos from last year’s trip.

The “Identity Abroad” podcasts are designed to help you learn more about study abroad and tell new student stories from across a variety of destinations, majors, and experiences. Visit the Syracuse Abroad website to learn more about internships, Signature Seminars, language study at all levels, homestays, and community engagement projects.

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‘Scholarship In Action’

18/02/25

Sport Management Raises $59,500 at 20th Charity Auction

The Sport Management Club at Syracuse University raised $59,500 for the Rescue Mission of Syracuse as a result of its 20th Annual Charity Sports Auction.

During the Syracuse men’s basketball game on Dec. 10, supporters purchased items and placed bids on sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, experiences, books, and trips, among other items. In addition to the in-person event, an online auction was held where online supporters placed bids on hundreds of items.

The Rescue Mission strives to end hunger and provide hope to those in need.

Apex Entertainment served as the Title Sponsor for the 2024 auction.

Seniors Adelaide Gilley (sport analytics), Livia McQuade (sport management) and Tynan Weathers (sport management) served as co-chairs for the event.

The SPM Club is a student-run organization in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ Department of Sport Management. Since its founding in 2005, the club has raised more than $760,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction include Tillie’s Touch, Boys & Girls Clubs, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the Central New York SPCA, the Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of CNY, the Salvation Army, American Diabetes Association, Make A Wish CNY, Meals on Wheels, the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center, and Vera House.

“The students have outdone themselves with this year’s Charity Sports Auction, and I couldn’t be prouder,” says Jeremy Losak, sport analytics assistant professor who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor. “While the public sees the excitement of the live event on game day, the real work happens behind the scenes, with students spending months planning every detail.

“From marketing and sales to sponsorship activation, analytics, event management, and fundraising, this event gives students a hands-on opportunity to apply classroom knowledge while making a real impact on the greater Syracuse community,” Losak adds. “This is scholarship in action at its finest.”

The Sport Management Club meets weekly during the academic year. For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or the Charity Sports Auction website.

To promote the auction, student organizers appeared on WSYR-TV’s Bridge Street

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Agent of Change

10/02/25

Falk College Associate Dean of Student Services Chandice Haste-Jackson Named to HBCU ELI 2025 Community of Fellows

Chandice Haste-Jackson, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Student Services and interim Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has been selected by the Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University (HBCU ELI) as one of 46 outstanding candidates for its 2025 Community of Fellows.

This milestone celebrates individual achievements and underscores the critical importance of nurturing the next generation of executive leaders within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Now in its fifth year, HBCU ELI is noted as one of the most prestigious executive leadership programs for HBCUs in the United States.

“I am honored to have been selected for the 2025 HBCU ELI Community of Fellows,” Haste-Jackson says. “Given the climate of higher education today, it is imperative that leaders are prepared to navigate through uncertainty and crisis and embody the skills and dispositions necessary to address contemporary and emerging issues.

“Participating in the HBCU ELI provides the opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge of higher education administration, and engage and learn from esteemed Legacy Leaders who have led institutions through the social, economic, racial, and historical contexts of higher education in this country,” she says.

Haste-Jackson, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, has held a variety of leadership positions, including: Interim Director of First Year Seminar (FYS 101), Director of the Syracuse University School of Education Liberty Partnerships Program; Executive Director of a transitional housing homeless shelter for women and children; Executive Director of an historical African American settlement house; and Assistant Director of an inner-city community center.

Haste-Jackson received her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Syracuse University, her master’s degree in behavioral sciences-psychology from Cameron University, and her Ph.D. in child and family studies from Syracuse (now Human Development and Family Science). She currently serves on several nonprofit boards and is a consultant for the My Brother’s Keeper Syracuse initiative founded by President Barack Obama.

The Community of Fellows are proven executive leaders and change agents who participate in a series of virtual and residency seminars providing knowledge and hands-on skills. HBCU ELI offers a transformative learning experience that empowers participants to address the complex challenges facing HBCUs today. Through academic excellence, practical experience, and mentorship, graduates emerge as visionary leaders who are prepared to drive positive change and advance the legacy of HBCUs.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, HBCUs were established prior to 1964 with the principal mission of educating Black Americans. Although these institutions were developed in an environment of legal segregation, they contributed substantially to the progress of Black Americans by providing access to higher education. The HBCUs of today welcomes students from all ethnic and international backgrounds and lead the way in creating inclusive and transformative cultures of belonging.

About HBCU ELI at Clark Atlanta University

The HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University (HBCU ELI) is a groundbreaking incubator for recruiting and developing the future presidents of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. ELI equips high-potential leaders with tools and strategies that support the education and business goals of more than 100 HBCUs. Through ELI, the ability of HBCUs to survive and thrive is improved. In addition to granting thousands of degrees each year, HBCUs boast illustrious alumni like Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, among others. Visit hbcueli.com for more information and join the conversation on social media @hbcueli; #hbcueli.

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NIL Clubhouse Podcast

04/02/25

On July 1, 2021, the NCAA determined that all athletes could benefit financially from their name, image and likeness. NIL, along with the NCAA relaxing its rules on student-athletes transferring from school to school, turned college athletics into what many observers have called the “wild, wild west.”

The rapid changes have been hard to follow and understand, but Department of Sport Management Professors Dave Meluni and Rick Burton are here to help with the new NIL Clubhouse Podcast. In their inaugural episode, Meluni and Burton examine today’s NIL landscape, discuss current legislation changing the business of intercollegiate athletics, and look ahead to what is on the horizon for the industry.

Listen to the NIL Clubhouse Podcast Episode 1 on Spotify.

Meluni, an associate teaching professor, has more than 20 years of experience in college athletics, first as a baseball player at Ithaca College and then by working in ticketing, marketing, sponsorship and digital roles at Ithaca, Cornell, Florida State and Syracuse. In fall 2021, less than two months after the NCAA’s NIL ruling, Meluni launched the first undergraduate NIL course in the country.

Burton, the David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management, teaches “Baseball in American Culture” in Syracuse’s Renee Crown Honors Program and has frequently served as a visiting professor at Kufstein Tirol University in Austria and the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece. The author of “20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes” and several other books, Burton previously served as chief marketing officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics and as commissioner of Australia’s National Basketball League in Sydney, where he was responsible for every aspect of the NBL’s development and growth.

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Voices of Service

30/01/25

A Showcase of Veteran-Focused Research, Curriculum and Programs

Call for Posters

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Academic Affairs invite you to submit poster abstracts for an inaugural event spotlighting diverse and dynamic work related to the interests and needs of veterans and military-connected populations. By showcasing ongoing and planned research projects, curricular innovations, program initiatives, and community engagement, we aim to amplify these efforts and foster new collaborations across our campus and community.

When and Where

• Date: April 10, 2025
• Location: National Veterans Resource Center (Syracuse University)
• Time: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Who Should Submit and Attend?

• Syracuse University students (undergraduate, graduate) and trainees (postdocs)
• Syracuse University faculty and staff
• Community partners and collaborators in the Central New York region

Topics of Interest

We seek posters that highlight completed, planned, or in-progress research, curricular work, or applied services and programming related to the lived experiences, needs, or interests of veterans and/or military-connected families and individuals. We welcome contributions from all disciplines and fields that intersect with veteran and military-connected topics. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Research Projects and Analyses that are completed, planned, or in-progress
• Curricular or Course-Related Efforts that focus on or integrate veteran- and military-related content
• Programs and Services that benefit or support veterans and/or military-connected populations
• Student Internships or Field Placements involving veteran research, support, outreach, or engagement

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission (250 words): Due by February 24, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: By March 7, 2025
• Final Digital Poster Email Submission: By April 7, 2025, to Julianna Fitz at jlfitz@syr.edu

Submission Details

• Submit abstracts to Julianna Fitz at jlfitz@syr.edu
• Include: Title (up to 150 characters); Author name(s); Affiliation(s); and Email address(es)

Event Schedule

12:30: Welcome and Opening Remarks

12:45 – 2:15: Open Poster session

2:15 – 3:00: Reception (light refreshments) and Closing Remarks

Requirements, Process, and Questions

• All presentations will be in person and posters must be printed.
• Presenting authors are requested to attend the poster session.
• Presenters are responsible for printing their own posters.
• Posters should be no larger than 30″ x 40″ (portrait or landscape).
• Easels, foam board, and binder clips will be provided.
• Posters will be accepted based on the quality of the abstract and the order received.
• For questions, please contact Jamie Winders at jwinders@syr.edu

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