Sport Management News
Olympics and Sports Participation
The Tokyo Olympics will have a different vibe from other games. No fans in the stands will make for quiet venues. And what impact might that have on drawing young viewers into watching the games and participating in sports in general?
For the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, Jamie Jeeyoon Kim, an assistant professor of sport management at Falk College, researched how young people were drawn into watching the games and more importantly whether they were then motivated to participate in sports—always a primary interest for host countries and those involved in the Olympic movement.
Kim has a deep background in the Olympics beyond her research. Before coming to academia, she used to work for the Korean Olympic Committee, assisting Korea’s successful bid for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and serving as a manager of the Korean national team.
For the 2018 Olympics, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee’s “New Horizons” vision was to expand winter sports in Asia, bolstered by what some in the sports industry described as the youngest and fastest-growing winter sports market in the world with the largest aggregate youth population.
To better understand the impact of the games and develop strategies for drawing in young people, Kim was awarded $18,000 as part of the International Olympic Committee’s advanced Olympic research grant for her project, “Building a Sport Participation Legacy Through the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.”
Through her work, Kim says that “social influence was found as the most influential factor in the Asian younger generations’ decision-making for Olympic consumption.” In Japan, that element might be missing at the upcoming games—as it will be hard to show how people are missing out from an experience when no one is in the stands.
Kim also received a $7,500 Falk College Seed Grant for the project, “Building Korea’s Brand Personality and Equity with the Olympic Brand and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics,” looking at the nation branding effects of hosting the Olympic games.
In this Q&A, Kim answers a few questions about her research on the legacy of sport participation from the Olympics, her longstanding connection with the Olympics and the thrill of the games.
Q: What did your research involve regarding your project on “Building a Sport Participation Legacy Through the 2018 Winter Olympic Games”?
A: As reflected in the vision of “New Horizons,” the primary goal of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics was to boost sport participation and spectatorship among younger generations in the Asian market through the “trickle-down effect” (i.e., watching the Olympics will inspire people to watch and play sport).
Based on “negotiation of motives and constraints,” a project identifying and testing the interaction among and assessing pre-post changes of key internal and external motives and intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints was conducted with late adolescents in Korea and China. The project was funded by the 2017-2018 Advanced Olympic Research Grant from the International Olympic Committee’s Olympics Studies Centre.
Motives and constraints already known to affect general sport participation and spectating (e.g., enjoyment, escape, cost, time constraint) were found to affect Asian younger generations’ decision-making for Olympic consumption. Notably, social influence and curiosity newly emerged as context-specific factors with strong influences.
The scarcity of the event—being held every four years and the rare opportunity to attend—altered how certain factors affected sport participation and spectatorship (e.g., lack of knowledge about a sport is usually a constraint but functioned as a motive in the study).
Additionally, the exposure to the 2018 games brought short-term boosts of Asian younger generations’ intentions for Olympic sport participation and spectating.
Q: What outcomes were there that might be applied to other Olympics, including these upcoming summer games? How do you see the lack of in-person fans at the upcoming Olympics as impacting sport participation?
A: Among the motives and constraints, social influence was found as the most influential factor in the Asian younger generations’ decision-making for Olympic consumption. Social influence—being influenced by friends or family or to follow the trend—is a factor similar to the “fear of missing out” that can be an influential motive as well as a moderator facilitating one’s overcoming of constraints.
For the Tokyo Olympics, it will be difficult to promote “social influence” among the Japanese audience, as banning in-person spectating hinders the building of the perception that “you do not want to miss out when many others are enjoying Olympic sport.” The fact that the majority of Japanese are preferring the postponement or cancellation of the games is another hindrance for forming “social influence.”
Q: What was the most satisfying part of your work serving with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Bid Committee and Korean Olympics Committee?
A: I cannot forget the moment when “PyeongChang” was announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. It was a moment of excitement and fulfillment, but I also felt relieved that the bidding process was finally over. It was one of the very few moments I’ve cried out of joy.
Attending the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics was also a satisfying experience. I was able to attend the event as a researcher. Seeing the Olympic bid plan actually being realized and being able to catch up with former colleagues were great enjoyable experiences.
My experience with the Olympics helped me stay involved with the Olympic movement in a researcher capacity. I have worked in a research consortium developing a bid strategy for the 2032 Seoul Summer Olympics and a legacy education program for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics. I also am working with the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and its 29 member NOCs on a project about NOC sponsorship. Being able to conduct research that assists practitioners and seeing it making an impact is very rewarding.
Q: What are you most looking forward to with the upcoming Olympics? What is your favorite sport to watch?
A: The IOC allows organizing committees to add certain sports to the Olympic program. For Tokyo, baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing will be added. These sports were strategically selected to appeal to the younger generation and the host country residents.
Personally, I am excited about skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing as they make their debut at the Olympic stage. These sports are dynamic, energetic and fast-paced, and I believe the sports will bring more excitement and attract more of a younger generation to watch the Olympics.
My favorite sport to watch is not in the summer program. It is short-track speed skating in the Winter Olympics. I like the sport as it is one of the most fast-paced sports, very competitive and always nail-biting. As the former team manager of the Korean national team, the fact that Korea has been pretty successful in the sport did affect my preference of the sport.
Second Season of SPM Juice Webinar Series Launches July 14
The Juice webinar series was created in 2020 and is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and encouraging professional development and social interaction among young professionals in the sports industry. Experienced professionals will engage in dialogue, offer guidance in professional development, and answer questions submitted by students. This year’s The Juice: Coming to You Live! webinar series is a chance for young professionals to hear from employers as they reopen their doors and host events – in person! – once again after COVID-19 rocked the world. The two webinars will be held via Zoom in July and August.
The Juice Season II, Part I – July 14, 12pm
A discussion on the current state of the sport and entertainment world from both an employer’s perspective as well as an employee perspective. Hear from leaders in career and professional development roles talk about navigating the hot new job market, staying motivated, what to look for in a company culture, and more. Join us for part one of the series discussing finding your footing during (and after) a global pandemic. Hear from leaders in career and professional development roles talk about navigating the hot new job market, staying motivated, what to look for in a company culture, and more. Moderated by Baltimore Ravens Player Engagement Manager Lori Robinson ’09, this event will focus the current state of the sport and entertainment world from both an employer’s perspective as well as an employee perspective.
Panelists:
Hanna Sanford (SPM ’16) is the Community Engagement Manager with the Seattle Seahawks and previously worked as Program Director at the Austen Everett Foundation. Sanford has experience in intercollegiate athletics, professional sports, and nonprofit work in marketing, communications, community outreach, and compliance.
Ari Moskowitz (SPM ’18) is a Business Development Manager for FanHub (acquired by Genius Sports Group), the largest provider of casual, free to play sports gaming platforms in the world, working with clients that include the NFL, NBA, MLB and more. Prior to this role, he worked for The Drone Racing League, The Legacy Agency, Rubicon Talent, and CSM Sport & Entertainment.
Kayla Smith is a Senior Career Coach in the Career Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Originally from Southern California, Smith attended UC Santa Barbara for both undergrad and graduate school. She spent almost a decade leading student-athlete development programs before making a career pivot to support the journey of students in higher education.
D.J. Shea (SU ’07) is a Lead Client Solutions Manager at LinkedIn working in the Marketing Solutions business and focusing on the Education Vertical. In his role he consults with his clients to ensure they are set up for success as marketers on LinkedIn across MBA degrees, EMBA degrees, master-level degrees, Executive Education Certificates, and Online Certificates.Register for July 14
The Juice Season II, Part 2 – August 11, 12pm
This session will focus on the current state of the sport and entertainment world from the global event space. Moderated by Aramark Sports and Entertainment Director of Growth Ian McFate ’08, join industry professionals as they discuss the new world of sponsorships, hosting events for the first time since the pandemic cancelled them the year before, and managing brands/talent heading into a “new” era of entertainment.
Panelists:
Alyssa Wood (SPM ’15) is the Director of Sponsorship Strategies and Activation at MKTG, where she is responsible for amplifying sports sponsorships for major brands such as AT&T, Avis, Liberty Mutual, DIRECTV, FedEx, Jack in the Box, and IBM. Her passion lies in helping brands utilize fan passion to influence consumer behavior.
Jim Geant (SPM ’13) is the Senior Manager for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at New York Road Runners, where he manages multi-million-dollar partnerships around the TCS New York City Marathon and the organization’s other road-racing events. Geant works with partners on activations, broadcast integrations and multi-platform marketing as well as with the business development team on sales strategy and contract negotiation.
Hugo Marsans (SPM ’19) is the Partnerships Manager at Culture Group, Southeast Asia’s leading pop-culture marketing agency. Marsans collaborates and builds programs with established and emerging brands at the intersection of music, gaming and entertainment. His previous experiences include stints at Relevent Sports and Endeavor.
Kate Ruben (SPM ’15) is the newly appointed Manager of Sports Partnerships for CLEAR. She spent the past four years with The Montag Group as their Chief of Staff and Director of Brand Development, where she oversaw branding across all verticals: talent speakers, consulting, content development, and media strategy.Register for August 11
2021 Student Research Winners
The Falk College Student Research Celebration is an annual event that takes place to highlight undergraduate and graduate student research projects Students submit posters for display and are judged by a committee of faculty, staff, and peers. Participants compete for educational funds to present their posters on a larger stage, to attend a conference to gain further insights into their respective fields, or for other educational endeavors. This year’s celebration took place virtually.
Undergraduate Winners
How to Allocate the NFL Salary Cap with a Highly Paid Quarterback
Name: Zachary Koeppel
Program/Major: Sport Analytics
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Rodney Paul
The Association that Gender Roles have with Health Seeking Behavior for Women in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
Name: Gloria Nabbosa, Professor Sandra Lane, and Professor Brittany Kmush
Program/Major: Public Health
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Brittany Kmush
EAT-26 Effectiveness in Detecting Eating Disorders in College Students
Name: Rose Noterman, Sivan Avramovich, and Professor Jessica Garay
Program/Major: Nutrition Science
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Jessica Garay
Under the Radar: An NBA/NCAA Player Similarity Model Utilizing a Factor Analysis & Radar Plots
Name: Dominic Samangy
Program/Major: Sport Analytics
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Justin Ehrlich
Malaria Control with Pyrethroids and Cognitive Deficits in Pre-School Aged Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Surveys
Name: Megan Willkens
Program/Major: Public Health and Policy Studies
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor David Larsen
Graduate Winners
Associations Between Physical Activity, Body Mass Index and Carotid Extra-Medial Thickness in Children
Name: Danielle Arcidiacono, Wesley Lefferts, Professor Brooks Gump, and Professor Kevin Heffernan
Program/Major: Exercise Science, M.S.
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Kevin Heffernan
Parental Autonomy Support and College Students’ Well-being
Name: Xiaoyu Fu, Woosang Wang, and Professor Eunjoo Jung
Program/Major: Human Development and Family Science, Ph.D.
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Eunjoo Jung
Working Mothers’ Job Demands, Work-family Conflict, and Job Satisfaction in East Asia: A Comparison of China, Taiwan, and Japan with National Sample
Name: Rui Tian and Professor Kamala Ramadoss
Program/Major: Human Development and Family Science, Ph.D.
Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Kamala Ramadoss
Watch Falk College’s Commencement and Convocation Ceremonies
Chancellor Syverud addressed students in the School of Architecture; College of Arts and Sciences; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics; School of Education; and University College during the ceremony Saturday, May 22.
During the commencement ceremony professor’s David Larsen and Brittany Kmush in Falk College’s Department of Public Health both received the Chancellor’s medal for their work helping Syracuse University to successfully navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Their expertise in endemiology and public health ensured that the University’s policies were informed by data and aligned with best practices. The Chancellor’s Medal is the highest honor Syracuse University offers and is rarely given. Both had also received the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence during this year’s One University Awards for their invaluable contributions, extraordinary work and selfless efforts to ensure a safe, healthy and rewarding residential experience for our students, faculty and staff in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Falk College also presented a live virtual Convocation at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 22. Watch the recording below.
Class of 2021 awards and honors
Falk College’s Department of Sport Management is pleased to recognize the outstanding work of its undergraduate and graduate students in the Class of 2021 in sport management, sport analytics and sport venue and event management.
The Department of Sport Management had a virtual awards celebration on Friday, May 21, 2021 via Zoom. View the recording below:
Students who were recognized for academic excellence, philanthropic work and post-graduate plans included:
Samuel Marteka
Director’s Award
In recognition of academic excellence; outstanding service to the department and community; and exemplary leadership on behalf of the Department of Sport Management.
Sam served as president of the Sport Management Club for two years, and was instrumental in planning the 2020 and 2019 Charity Sports Auctions. He was named a Berlin Sport Analytics Scholar and a Falk College Scholar and presented his research at sport analytics conferences. He also served as an academic coach at SU’s Center of Learning and Student Success. Sam gained industry experience with the Orleans Firebirds (Cape Cod Baseball League) and Syracuse Sports Properties (Learfield IMG College).
Kristen Siermachesky
Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Excellence Award
In recognition of outstanding service to both the campus and greater Syracuse communities and society at large; for exemplary citizenship, excellence in establishing outreach opportunities for students and being a quintessential representative for the Department of Sport Management. This award is named in honor of Sport Management major Matt Brodsky, who passed away during his freshman year at Syracuse University.
Kristen captained SU’s hockey team as a senior and served as president of SU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She received an ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship to continue her studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to obtain a master’s degree in Sport Administration.
Max Josef
Sport Management VIP Award
In recognition of outstanding service and volunteerism; strong academic standing; leadership and example as a role model to students.
Max volunteered at the SPM Club’s Charity Sports Auction, was named a 2021 Falk College Marshall, served as head manager for SU’s women’s volleyball team, a campus tour guide, and Falk College Peer Advisor and Ambassador. He interned with the 2019 World Lacrosse Games in Israel and completed his Senior Capstone with Exclusive Sports Group in Indianapolis.
Falk College Marshal
Max was named the 2021 Falk College Marshal. He served as head manager for the SU women’s volleyball team, as a U100 campus tour guide, and a Falk College Peer Advisor and Ambassador. Max interned with the 2019 World Lacrosse Games in Israel and completed his Senior Capstone with Exclusive Sports Group in Indianapolis.
Marc Orlin
Professional Engagement Award
In recognition of exemplary real-world practical experience; work ethic; dedication; professional demeanor and career development as an undergraduate student and SPM representative.
Marc volunteered as the marketing chairperson for the SPM Club’s Charity Sports Auction and is also captain of SU’s roller hockey team. He worked remotely with StayBillety, Rookie Road, and the Sports Broadcast Journal, and completed his Senior Capstone with Super Fan Fundraising in account management and social media marketing. Upon graduation, he will transition into a full-time role at Super Fan.
Kaitlynn Miller
Academic Excellence Award
In recognition of outstanding academic achievement and overall scholarship.
Kaitlynn earned Dean’s List honors every semester, worked with ‘Cuse Crew, and served as president of SPM’s Women in Sports and Events Club. She interned with UC Santa Barbara Athletics, the Santa Barbara Foresters minor league baseball club, Hitz & Branding, and Tackle What’s Next, as well as completed her Senior Capstone with Bowl Season. Kaitlynn co-chaired the 2020 SPM Charity Sports Auction and served as a committee chair for the 2019 Auction.
Sport Management Department Marshal
Kaitlynn Miller represented the Department of Sport Management as the Department Marshal. Marshals have excelled during their time on campus and exemplify the spirit of the senior class. The selection committee assesses the nominees on scholarship, academic honors, student organization involvement, and campus/community service.
Daniel Cott
Jason Morales Perseverance in Sports and Life Award
In recognition of extraordinary persistence and positive motivation when confronted with life’s challenges and serving as an exemplary SPM representative. This award is named in memory of Jason Morales, who passed away while completing his senior Capstone in New York City in Spring 2013.
Daniel overcame health complications to finish his degree and land his dream Capstone internship in New York City with Premier Partnerships. He has even created his own sneaker and memorabilia business. Daniel served as manager of SU’s men’s soccer team, as well as interned with DV7 Group, Street Soccer USA, the Northern Trust Open, and the New York Islanders.
Josephine Kiesel
Director’s Award for Academic Promise
In recognition of her plans to attend post-graduate education, demonstrating exemplary service to the community, and serving as an ambassador and mentor to students:
Josie, a member of SU’s rowing team, is a two-time ACC All-Academic Team selection. The Germany native volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club of Central New York. She received an ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship to continue her studies at the EM Normandie Business School’s International Events Master’s Program in Paris.
Caroline Johnson
Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award
Presented to an undergraduate senior who has given back to the community, continually demonstrating strong volunteerism and philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of others within the greater Syracuse community, and in so doing, setting an example for his/her peers and the Falk College community.
Caroline transferred into the Sport Management program as a sophomore and went on to serve as president of the Women in Sports and Events Club, where she helped coordinate many philanthropic events. She served as co-chair of the 2019 Charity Sports Auction, and gained industry experience with ’Cuse Crew, the Hartford Yard Goats and the Syracuse Crunch. She completed her senior Capstone with The Montag Group, which has offered her a full-time job upon graduation.
Kamille Cooper
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
In recognition of outstanding academic standing; service; leadership and example as a role model to graduate students in the Sport Venue and Event Management program.
Kamille was instrumental in planning the graduate program’s 2021 webinar on the mental health of student-athletes. She has accepted a job with the National Diversity Council upon graduation.
James Hyman
Sport Analytics Academic Excellence Award
In recognition of outstanding academic achievement and overall scholarship in Sport Analytics.
James is a dual major in sport analytics and neuroscience. He contributed to research that was presented at a variety of conferences including MIT/Sloan, in addition to a summer sport analytics research program at Carnegie Mellon. He completed SU’s analytics program in three years and plans to continue his studies this fall through the Applied Data Science master’s program in Syracuse University’s iSchool.
Jonathan Bosch
Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award
In recognition of demonstrated commitment and success in academic research, presentation and/or publication in Sport Analytics.
Jonathan presented his research at the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics conference and was a winner of the poster competition at both MIT/Sloan and Carnegie Mellon Sport Analytics conferences. He is also a Berlin Scholar, Syracuse University Scholar and Falk College Scholar. Jonathan has accepted a job as a Data Analyst with Zensah in Miami, Florida.
Syracuse University Scholar
Sport Analytics major Jonathan Bosch is one of 12 seniors from across the University named as the 2021 Syracuse University scholars, the highest undergraduate honor that the University bestows. Bosch is also a mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Syracuse University Scholars Selection Committee selected the 2021 scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth and/or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation. Bosch is the first Sport Analytics or Sport Management student in the department’s history to earn this honor.
Sport Analytics Marshal
Jonathan Bosch is this year’s Sport Analytics Marshal. Marshals have excelled during their time on campus and exemplify the spirit of the senior class. The selection committee assesses the nominees on scholarship, academic honors, student organization involvement, and campus/community service.
Kushal Shah
Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award
In recognition of demonstrated commitment and success in academic research, presentation and/or publication in Sport Analytics.
Kushal presented his research at the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics conference and was a winner of the poster competition at both MIT/Sloan and Carnegie Mellon Sport Analytics conferences. Kushal completed the program in three years and plans to continue his studies this fall through the Applied Data Science master’s program in Syracuse University’s iSchool.
Colin Krantz
Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise
In recognition of plans to attend post-graduate education, demonstrating exemplary service to the community, and serving as an ambassador and mentor to students in Sport Analytics.
Colin presented his research at the Midwest Sport Analytics Conference and the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Conference. He completed the program in three years and will continue studies this fall through the Applied Data Science master’s program in Syracuse University’s iSchool.
Alejandro (Alex) Pesantez
Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise
In recognition of plans to attend post-graduate education, demonstrating exemplary service to the community, and serving as an ambassador and mentor to students in Sport Analytics.
Alejandro (Alex) presented his research at numerous sport analytics conferences during his time at Syracuse University, including Carnegie Mellon, and was selected as a Falk Scholar. He plans to continue his studies at the University of Notre Dame to obtain a master’s degree in Data Science.
Zachary Koeppel
Sport Analytics VIP Award
In recognition of outstanding service and volunteerism; strong academic standing; leadership and example as a role model to students in Sport Analytics.
Zachary led the department’s football analytics club and planned the department’s inaugural Football Analytics Blitz Competition. He annually competed in the National Sabermetrics Diamond Dollars Case Competition, and will continue his education in the Master of Sports Law and Business program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.
Bailie Brown
Sport Analytics Game Changer Award
In recognition of positive impact on fellow sport analytics students and unyielding dedication, professional skills, and commitment to succeed, “changing the game” and making a difference.
Bailie is the first female in the nation to graduate with an undergraduate degree in sport analytics. She annually competed in the National Sabermetrics Diamond Dollars Case Competition, as well as served as vice president of SU’s Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club and as a Falk College peer advisor and as a teaching assistant for high school and first-year students studying sport analytics. She has accepted, and is currently working, as a Baseball Strategy Apprentice with the Houston Astros.
Kayla Scognamillo
Sport Venue and Event Management (MS) Marshal
Kayla Scognamillo is this year’s Sport Venue and Event Management (MS) Marshal. Marshals have excelled during their time on campus and exemplify the spirit of the senior class. The selection committee assesses the nominees on scholarship, academic honors, student organization involvement, and campus/community service.
Falk Scholars
Sport Analytics majors Jonathan Bosch, James Hyman, Samuel Marteka, Alejandro Pesantez and Kushal Shah have been named Falk Scholars. Falk College Scholars represent undergraduate students in Falk College who display academic excellence, exceptional campus and community engagement, and personal integrity.
Berlin Sport Analytics Scholars
These 12 Sport Analytics seniors were named Berlin Scholars for the 2020-2021 academic year. The scholarship is named for Andrew Berlin, who donated $1 million to SU’s sport analytics program in 2018. Zachary Anhalt, Jonathan Bosch, Bailie Brown, Jacob Cummis, Drew DiSanto, James Hyman, Zachary Koeppel, Colin Krantz, Samuel Marteka, Cameron Mitchell, Alejandro Pesantez, and Kushal Shah.
Sport Management Academic Achievement Awards
These students achieved a GPA of 3.4 or higher for every semester at Syracuse University: Ryan Beaury, Matthew Diemand, Katherine Eliou, Oliver Glavin, Max Josef, Josephine Kiesel, Seth Kourpas, Hannah Kuo, Nicolas Lemaire, Kaitlynn Miller, Jonathan Offit, Jenna Parker, Simone Saputo and Dylan Schwartz.
Sport Analytics Academic Achievement Awards
These students achieved a GPA of 3.4 or higher for every semester at Syracuse University: Jonathan Bosch, Bailie Brown, Steven DiMaria, James Hyman, Colin Krantz, Cameron Mitchell, Alejandro Pesantez and Kushal Shah.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Post-Graduate Scholarships
Sport Management seniors Josie Kiesel (rowing) and Kristen Siermachesky (ice hockey) have been awarded post-graduate scholarships by the ACC. The student-athletes are recognized for their outstanding performances in their respective sports, engagement in the community, and exemplary work in classroom.
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Along with Dean Murphy, the entire Falk College community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, community partners and friends, congratulates the Class of 2021! Over the past several weeks, departments across Falk College honored student achievements and celebrated the graduating Class of 2021, which are detailed on individual department websites.
Graduates and families should visit the main page on the Commencement website on Saturday, May 22 at 11 a.m. EST to view the virtual school and college convocations, including the Falk Convocation, and livestream of all Commencement ceremonies. Recordings of virtual convocations will be posted online so that graduates and their families can view them at a later date.
Details about Syracuse University Commencement weekend, May 22-23 are available, including specific information about safety protocols for those attending in person.
“To the Class of 2021, as the newest Falk alumni, you join an accomplished community of socially responsible citizens who can and who must lead change,” notes Diane Lyden Murphy, dean, Falk College.
We know you will lead the way! Congratulations, and best wishes!
Stepping Up to the Plate
The game started at 7 p.m. Thirteen-year-old Christian Buonadonna sat with his aunt and uncle in the “nosebleed” section of the baseball stadium. Far below, their Philadelphia home team battled the opposing team into extra innings. As the night wore on, the crowd gradually thinned and Buonadonna and his family moved closer. Soon they were in prime seats and perfectly positioned to catch the foul ball that popped into the air and soared toward them. “It was the whole experience—being there on a summer night for 18 innings, up until 3 a.m., going home with a ball—I really fell in love with the game,” Buonadonna says.
At first, Buonadonna’s interest in sports revolved primarily around baseball and the statistics of the game. When he first applied to Syracuse University’s Falk College, he thought he’d want to study sport analytics. But as he explored the range of Falk’s programs during his first year, he became captivated by the dynamism and interdisciplinary nature of sport management, which he eventually declared as his major. “Sport management brings in aspects from many other fields—business, communications, marketing, psychology. I like that you pull insight from all these different areas and then apply them in a sport context,” says Buonadonna, who is now a junior.
Worthy Goals
As he envisions his career plans, Buonadonna hopes to address issues of diversity and equity in sports and sport industries. “I always go back to the concept of intersectionality,” he says. “There are athletes who identify in multiple ways—some with identities they might even hide. I think it’s important to shine a light on what those athletes may deal with—the oppression they may feel—and also highlight ways teams can support them and really celebrate the diversity in athletic communities.” Sports provide a valuable arena in which to address these topics, he says, because sports powerfully influence many other areas of culture and the economy.
Buonadonna’s own life experiences inform his commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion and influence the empathy he brings to this work. He and his younger sister were born in South Korea and adopted as infants by white American parents. At times he has faced challenges as a Korean American who is racially different from his parents, but he appreciates the perspective and insight that those challenges have helped him develop.
Buonadonna—who often adds his Korean given name, Jung, to his signature—has found ways to explore and embrace the Korean side of his identity. One of the most meaningful has been his practice of the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do. “It has provided life lessons and helped me appreciate certain values, such as humility, self-control and integrity, which are part of our honor code and which I try to hold myself true to, to this day,” he says. He also participates in and leads programming at the Syracuse University Catholic Center, and says his faith has been an important source of guidance and community.
Putting His Education Into Practice
Buonadonna serves as a resident advisor with the Office of Student Living and works with members of the Syracuse football team and the men’s and women’s basketball teams living in an apartment complex on South Campus. It’s a role that lets him put into practice event planning skills he’s gaining from his studies. Even before the pandemic, it took some creativity to organize successful community-building activities, he says, because of the athletes’ full schedules and their tendency to retire to their apartments rather than gather in the communal lounges. Buonadonna’s responsibilities include planning two events a month for the residents he serves. “I’ve realized the success of these activities depends largely on the way I market them and how and when I communicate to the residents. This connects to what I’m learning about in some of my courses—so I just keep adapting my techniques,” he says.
He has been working closely with other students and staff in the Office of Multicultural Affairs to organize programming for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which the University celebrates in April. He hopes to build on this experience in the guided internship he’ll complete next fall as part of the sport management curriculum. In their final year, sport management majors complete a 12-credit capstone that entails gaining hands-on experience in the sport industry. As he firms up plans for which organization he’ll work with, Buonadonna looks forward to being in a professional setting and to expanding his knowledge of the ways different organizations are addressing issues around diversity and inclusion. “There are so many people doing this important work already, and advocating for diversity and equity,” he says. “But there’s also still a lot of room for growth. I know I will find my place.”
An SU Story by Sarah H. Griffin originally published on April 29, 2021.
Falk College sport venue and event management graduate students getting hands-on experience in event planning.
Falk College’s Sport Venue and Event Management (SVEM) program hosted “More Than A Game,” a virtual symposium dedicated to promoting athlete mental health awareness, on April 21, 2021. Speakers include Syracuse University student-athletes as well as industry professionals.
Brittney Sykes ’17 (current WNBA player for the LA Sparks), Cam Lynch ’15 (former NFL linebacker) Morgan Alexander ’21 (women’s lacrosse), and Quincy Guerrier ’23 (men’s basketball) will serve as panelists. Additional keynote speakers include Valorie Kondos Fields (PAC 12 Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Century), Dr. Jessica Bartley (Director of Mental Health for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees), Breyah Richardson (former Loyola New Orleans women’s basketball player and founder of B.R.E.A.T.H.E., an organization designed to bring mental health resources to the Black community), Matt Davidson (Founder and President of the Excellence with Integrity Institute), Resa Lovelace (Founder of RBL Theory, an organization dedicated to promoting workplace diversity and inclusivity), and Dona Rodgers (Founder of Morgan’s Message, which strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics).
The topic of mental health was selected for its relevance in society, particularly sporting communities, where, regardless of age, race, gender, and/or sexuality, nearly 35 percent of professional athletes cite that they are coping with some form of a mental health issue. The Syracuse University Sport Venue and Event Management program aims to bring awareness to mental health issues affecting athletes and to provide a safe space for sharing information and encouraging discussion.
A core component of Falk College’s SVEM graduate program is a semester-long assignment for each cohort to collectively organize an event that they host during the spring semester.
“This event provides students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event planning from start to finish,” said Sport Management Associate Professor Dr. Gina Pauline, who has taught the Advanced Sport Event Management course for the past six years. “They have learned how to work on marketing, sponsorship, operations, and more through the executing of this virtual symposium. In what is a very different academic year for everyone, the students found an opportunity to develop their skills while focusing on such a meaningful topic.”
This year’s symposium, “More Than a Game,” was a first of its kind within the program’s history as a completely online event.
For more information, please visit the More Than A Game website, and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @morethanagameSU.
~ By Kamille Cooper and Michael Okin
Making It All Happen
Some years ago, Gina Pauline saw an announcement for an upcoming half-Ironman—the famously challenging triathlon. She’d never done much bike riding, and the competition was just three months away, but she decided to give it a try. On the day of the race, temperatures dropped into the 40s. Undeterred, Pauline plunged into the lake and swam more than a mile. Then, despite the hypothermic conditions and lingering scrapes from a recent fall, she climbed on her bike and rode 56 miles before finishing with a 13-mile run. “I loved it,” she says with a laugh. Endurance races are now a regular feature of her life.
There are striking similarities between Pauline’s introduction to Ironman competitions and her early career. Pauline, who is now an associate professor and the undergraduate director in the Department of Sport Management in Syracuse University’s Falk College, tells students about her start in the sport management industry in hopes they’ll gain insight and encouragement from her experience. Her first professional role was as an intern with the Eastern College Athletic Conference. “I was assigned to Division I men’s ice hockey—Brown, Cornell, Princeton—those teams. My job included putting together their media guides, selecting the players of the week, doing press releases.” At the time, she knew very little about ice hockey. “I’d never even seen a game,” she admits. The challenges she faced in her new position were compounded by the fact that she was just 20 years old and one of very few women in a professional environment dominated almost entirely by men with decades of experience.
Determination, Passion and Grit
But she dove in, she says, learning as much as she could by watching games and studying the sport. “Somehow, I figured it out. I just kept going with it—showing up early and staying late and doing my best,” she explains. “And when I had a setback, I didn’t let it define me.”
Pauline’s resolve paid off, and she was rewarded with another 12 championship assignments, including in soccer, volleyball and a major swimming and diving event. It was an exhilarating experience that confirmed her passion for the field. “I loved the events. I loved the planning. I loved watching the athletes perform and being able to give them a great experience.”
Passion—a true love for the tremendous amount of creativity and management that make sporting events possible—is an essential component for those interested in going into the industry, Pauline says. As long as that’s there to sustain them during the periods of intense work and pressure, then the other qualities required to thrive are ones that can be honed. She encourages students to be willing to step up to new experiences, adapt nimbly and foster resilience in the face of challenges.
Transforming the Field
Pauline brought that spirit of commitment and enthusiasm when she and her husband, Jeff Pauline (now an associate professor of sport management specializing in sport psychology) joined Syracuse University in 2006, drawn by the unique opportunity to help develop the nascent program. Since then, Syracuse’s sport management department has become one of the most competitive in the country.
Pauline is particularly proud of the work they’re doing to address gender imbalance in the sport management industry. She served as advisor to the first collegiate chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE), a national networking and professional development organization. “It’s a signature part of our department now,” Pauline says. “WISE gives us the framework to bring our phenomenal female students together to work on meaningful events and to have the mentorship to really empower them toward professions in the industry.”
Pauline’s eyes were opened to sport management as a career path by a fortuitous internship in the athletics department of Binghamton University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and competed on the women’s swim team. Now one of her missions is to raise awareness of the field. She has developed an introductory sport management course for Syracuse University Project Advance, which offers college courses to high school students. Working with high schools also affords her the opportunity to challenge the enduring misconception that sport management is an industry primarily for men, she says.
Adapting and Thinking Creatively
One of the responsibilities Pauline enjoys most is a graduate course she teaches every spring. The students, who are pursuing master’s degrees in sport venue and event management, are tasked with planning an event from start to finish. “They start with a budget of zero. They have to conceive an event, determine the logistics, branding, marketing, and sell sponsorships,” Pauline explains. All proceeds go to charitable causes, which, Pauline says, provides an important lesson in the value of giving back to the community. “To watch them go through the work and then watch the final product and their recognition that they’ve just raised $20,000 for a cause they believe in—that’s very rewarding,” she says.
The 2020 cohort was in the midst of organizing a dinner, silent auction and golf tournament centered around their classmate and Syracuse basketball player Tiana Mangakahia ’19, G’21, who recently overcame breast cancer, when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted plans. “The students had everything planned and ready to go,” Pauline says. “ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, who’s also a three-time cancer survivor, was going to come and speak. Several local celebrities were scheduled to attend, sponsorships were secured, and the event was essentially sold out two months in advance.” Proceeds were slated to go to Crouse Breast Health Care Center at Crouse Hospital, where Mangakahia had received her testing and diagnoses.
The students adapted the materials so the event—the SVEM Pink Ribbon Classic—can proceed at a later time. Meanwhile, they have adjusted to the pandemic in other ways, too. This year’s cohort has organized a virtual symposium and speaker series on topics related to the mental health of student-athletes, which will bring together students, coaches and administrators from around the country.
The pandemic has indeed been an unexpected challenge, Pauline says, but it has also provided an opportunity for students to practice the adaptability, creative thinking and resourcefulness that ensure they will flourish in their field.
~ A Syracuse University story by Sarah H. Griffin published on March 24, 2021.
Falk students named Syracuse University, Falk Scholars
Ten members of the Class of 2021 are among the recipients of the highest honors awarded by Syracuse University and Falk College. Jonathan Bosch, a sport analytics major in Falk College and mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences is one of 12 graduating seniors from across campus named a 2021 Syracuse University Scholar.
The Syracuse University Scholars Selection Committee, a University-wide faculty committee, selected the 2021 scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth and/or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.
“Jonathan is a young scholar-researcher who continues to impress professionals in the sports industry with the breadth and depth of his research interests and abilities,” notes Diane Lyden Murphy, dean, Falk College.
Additionally, ten students were named Falk College Scholars from the Class of 2021. Falk Scholars represent undergraduate students who display academic excellence, exceptional campus and community engagement, independent research and creative work, innovation in their disciplinary field, and personal integrity. Designation as a Falk Scholar is the highest academic award conferred by Falk College on graduating seniors. Class of 2021 Falk Scholars include:
- Jonathan Bosch, Sport Analytics
- Seth Dawicki, Public Health
- James Hyman, Sport Analytics
- Katherine Koehler, Social Work
- Samuel Marteka, Sport Analytics
- Caitlin Murphy, Nutrition Science
- Alejandro Pesantez, Sport Analytics
- Symone Roberts, Public Health
- Kushal Shah, Sport Analytics
- Mackenzie Swanson, Nutrition Science
“The combination of our scholars’ academic success and dedication to sharing their knowledge and experiences outside of the classroom to engage the world represents what Falk College is all about: social responsibility, social justice and service to others,” says Murphy.
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