Sport Management News
2019 Falk Student Research Celebration Takes Place March 26-29
Falk students are invited to submit posters for completed or in-progress empirical, exploratory, policy analytic or hypothesis-driven research projects using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods for display, judging, and awards in the 2019 Falk Student Research Celebration March 26-29. The multi-day event will highlight Falk students’ research collaborations and their dedication to advancing research knowledge.
Poster entry forms are due March 7 and poster submissions are due March 21. Posters will be on display beginning March 26 near the second floor student lounge and the Falk Café on 2 in the Falk Complex, with judging and awards taking place March 27. Students will present their posters from 12 to 1 p.m. on March 27 and 28.
The Falk College Office of Research Development promotes a robust, collaborative research community in which students play an active role. At Falk, graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to work directly with faculty to collect data, analyze findings and draw conclusions on relevant topics surrounding public health, food studies, nutrition, sport management, human development and family science, social work, and marriage and family therapy.
“Conducting research as a student has many benefits, including building a strong relationship with Falk faculty members, improving writing and statistical analysis skills, and creating connections both on and off campus,” says instructor Jessica L. Garay. “Because much of the research in Falk College has real-world implications, we want students to be able to share their findings publicly, and the Falk Student Research Celebration is the perfect opportunity to do so.”
“The student research days is a great showcase of the work our students are doing to understand the world and the human condition,” says assistant professor David Larsen. “It’s always fun to see the new ideas that our students have, and how they are seeking to improve the world we live in.”
Assistant professor Bhavneet Walia agrees. “It’s a great way to quench your curiosity,” she says. “Come see what our students are up to at the Falk Student Research Celebration.”
Winners of the 2018 Falk Student Research Celebration, held March 27-30, 2018, included research in a wide range of topics, such as maternal health, accessibility, and PTSD.
For more information about the 2019 Falk Student Research Celebration, contact Amy Dumas adumas@syr.edu at the Falk College Office of Research Development.
New Falk Office of Career Services opens with events for Falk students Feb. 1 and 8
The new Falk College Office of Career Services will provide Falk students with personalized guidance and resources to help them achieve their post-graduation goals, start new careers, or pursue graduate study. Services include one-on-one resume and cover letter consultation, interview coaching, job search strategy and negotiation preparation, digital presence and branding assistance, as well as skill-building guidance in professional communication and networking. Falk Career Services will also provide support to Falk alumni throughout their careers, and act as a liaison between Falk College and employers seeking to recruit Falk students, recent graduates, or experienced alumni.
To celebrate the grand opening, first year and sophomore Falk students are invited to an opportunity fair on Friday, February 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will feature several on-campus clubs, professional organizations, and community volunteer groups with employment, service, and social opportunities to share.
The following Friday, February 8 from 1 to 3 p.m., Falk juniors, seniors, and graduate students are invited to a networking mixer to meet with alumni, area employers, and professional organizations, expand their professional networks, and prepare for the career and internship hiring process.
Both events are free of charge and take place in Grant Rotunda in the Falk Complex. Refreshments will be served.
The Falk College Office of Career Services is integrated with Handshake, Syracuse University’s new career management tool. Using Handshake, students can schedule career counseling appointments, find event details for career fairs and employer visits on campus, and discover job and internship opportunities with over 300,000 employers. Students who wish to receive information from Falk College Career Services should join Handshake.
Falk Career Services is housed within the College’s Student Services unit, which includes 10 staff members dedicated to providing a caring, comfortable and confidential environment where students can discuss academic, social and emotional concerns. Falk Student Services also provides advising for undeclared students and tracks all requirements for degree completion.
Contact Falk College Career Services at falkcareers@syr.edu or (315) 443-3144, or visit 330 Barclay Hall. Read the full announcement on the SU News website.
Sport management students and professionals meet during S.P.M. Week
As an exciting close to winter break, the inaugural Sport Management Students and Professionals Meet Week, or S.P.M. Week, gave sport management students the opportunity to learn more about careers in sport with the help of alumni who hosted them at their workplaces, including sports agencies, universities, and professional leagues and teams, from January 7-11.
Cherie Hong, a graduate student in the sport venue and event management program, visited sport management alumna Blake Johnson ’16 at the Atlanta Hawks. “I had informational meetings with professionals and assisted with various tasks in the office and at Game Day Clinic,” says Hong. “I learned about community relations, basketball operations, public relations, corporate social responsibility, partnership marketing, sales, video production and all the moving parts involved with working in sports.”
“I am very grateful to the Department of Sport Management for organizing this incredible opportunity for us,” she adds.
Alumni hosts introduced the students to their industry and organization, providing an opportunity for the students to observe their daily responsibilities and ask questions along the way. S.P.M. Week is intentionally designed to be flexible, so each shadowing experience fits the interests of the student and their alumni host.
“I liked the flexibility that I had to shape the experience to fit my job, department, and the activations we had going on at the time,” says Johnson. “The experience went great! Cherie was absolutely delightful and up for whatever. It was clear that she had done her research prior to her first day with me and prior to her informational interviews with my coworkers.”
Syracuse University’s Falk College offers professional degree programs in the Department of Sport Management which prepare students for careers in sports administration and business, marketing and sales, sport analytics, venue management and event planning, and more.
SPM Club’s 2018 Sports Auction Nets $55,195 for Charity
The 2018 total was the third-highest in the 14-year history of the event, which has now raised $467,233 for local charities.
During the auction, bids were placed on more than 475 items, including signed sports memorabilia, tickets to sporting events, gift baskets, car services, furniture, gift certificates, trips and jewelry, among others.
“The Rescue Mission is excited and grateful to have been chosen as the nonprofit partner for the 2018 Sports Management Club Charity Sports Auction. The proceeds from this event will remain local right here in Syracuse and Upstate New York, and will directly serve those in need through safe beds and warm meals,” said Chief Executive Officer Dan Sieburg.
Since 1887, the Rescue Mission Alliance has been fighting to end homelessness and hunger across Upstate New York, with operations in Syracuse, Auburn, Ithaca and Binghamton. Their mission is to share hope, end hunger and homelessness, change lives, and strengthen communities, one person at a time. In 2017, the Rescue Mission served more than 282,000 meals and helped over 10,000 men, women and children in need in the community.
“We are very proud of the countless hours our students put forth to make this important event such a success,” said SPM director Michael Veley, who also serves as advisor for the Club. “We are honored to help the local Rescue Mission continue its fantastic efforts toward ending homelessness and hunger.”
For more information about the annual Charity Auction, follow us on Twitter at @SPMAuction, Facebook and Instagram at @spm_auction, and visit the Syracuse University Charity Sports Auction website for the most up-to-date event information.
Sport Analytics students present research at national competition
The Syracuse University Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club sent two teams to the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition at NYU on November 16, 2018.
The competition is for undergraduate students from universities across the country to compete against each other by preparing an analysis and presentation of a baseball operations decision. Presentations were made to a panel of judges consisting of Major League Baseball executives. Teams were given seven days to collect data, make projections, and prepare a 30-minute presentation for the competition in New York City.
This year, the teams were asked to predict the free agent contract in years and dollars for Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals and Manny Machado of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harper and Machado are expected to receive two of the largest free-agent deals in Major League Baseball history during the 2018-19 offseason. Students also had to predict which team the players would sign with and their future statistics for the life of the contract.
“This was an interesting case to work on because within a few months we can compare our predictions against the players’ actual contracts, and later on, against their actual statistics,” said Sport Analytics major Zak Koeppel ’21. “Overall, it was a fantastic research experience for all students involved and we learned a lot.”
Along with Koeppel, nine SU Sport Analytics majors competed at the event: Zach Crowe ’22, Steven DiMaria ’22, Gareth Jobling ’20, Kyle Liotta ’20, Drake Mills ’22, Colby Olson ’21, Daniel Preciado ’22, Joey Sabel ’21, and Warren Schatten ’22.
“While neither team won, it was truly a unique opportunity to present our student-led research to Major League Baseball executives,” Liotta said. “That’s not something undergraduate students get to do very often.”
The Sport Analytics students competed against teams from Fordham, Tufts, and NYU, among others. Judges included Cameron Barwick (MLB), Chris Pang (New York Mets), and Greg Bouris (MLB Players Association). The judges picked a winning presentation at the conclusion of the competition and offered suggestions on how the presentations could be improved.
“Having our students continually be able to present research at national competitions is vital to their education and expands upon what we teach them in the classroom,” said Dr. Rodney Paul, director of the Sport Analytics program at SU.
SPM hosts former minor leaguers, Yankees scout for Business of Baseball event
On November 7, 2018, the Department of Sport Management hosted a panel discussion titled “The Business of Baseball” in Falk College at Syracuse University. Students heard from former Minor League Baseball players Steve Bean and Nick Sinay as well as Marc DelPiano, a current scout for the New York Yankees who also played two seasons of minor league baseball.
The panelists discussed opportunities in professional baseball operations, scouting, front office administration, and analytics. They also provided insight on how players progress through the minor league system, from signing a contract to agent relations, nutrition, and endorsement opportunities.
Sport Management assistant teaching professor Dave Meluni organized the event and moderated the discussion.
“It was a tremendous opportunity for our students to hear from these professionals who are knowledgeable in all aspects of the game, from a player perspective and from the business side,” said Meluni, who teaches sales, sponsorship and promotion, and managing the sport organization at Syracuse University.
Bean was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Rockwall High School in Rockwall, Texas. He played more than 300 games for five teams in the minor leagues.
DelPiano is a scout for the New York Yankees. He previously served as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2008-2015. He then became the Vice President of Player Development for the Miami Marlins through September 2017.
Sinay, a Marcellus (NY) High School graduate, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Buffalo. He played more than 175 games with three teams in the minor leagues.
DelPiano told the students, “You don’t have to be a former player to make a career in the baseball world, as determination and drive will keep you in the game as long as you want.”
Brigid Daly ’19 receives Michigan Sports Business Conference’s BIG Initiative Award
Sport Management senior Brigid Daly ’19 was recently named a 2018 BIG Initiative Award Winner by the Michigan Sports Business Conference, an honor presented to 10 high-achieving sport management students in the Unites States and Canada. BIG stands for “Build, Inspire, Grow.”
Daly attended the prestigious conference on Oct. 19 in Ann Arbor, Mich. She heard from featured guest speakers and industry professionals such as Jeff Wilpon, Chief Operating Officer for the New York Mets; DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association; and Estee Portnoy, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Live Nation.
“The panelists provided a lot of insight into where the sport industry is headed, and I am definitely more interested in eSports and analytics after hearing from the speakers,” said Daly, who is from Ellicott City, MD.
Launched in 2013, the BIG Initiative annually recognizes outstanding student leaders in sport business who have achieved an exceptional level of success. Each year, the MSBC attracts top applicants from across the nation. Those receiving the honor are selected on the basis of demonstrated entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and leadership. Nominees must be students with a passion for the sport industry that demonstrate a truly remarkable curriculum vitae.
“I was able to network with a lot of the speakers, Michigan sport management students and other BIG Initiative award winners,” Daly said. “I was incredibly impressed by the other students at the conference and the connections I made with fellow students were most valuable.”
Daly completed her senior capstone in Fall 2018 at Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment in New York City. She previously interned with the NFL, Inside Lacrosse and participated in a job-shadowing program with the Washington Wizards.
Advocating for inclusive facilities access
Twelve students took the 10-hour online training program offered by the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center, supported by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC). As part of the training, students used measurement tapes, door pressure gauge, and inclinometers to examine spaces, access, and equipment. After completion of the training to learn about accessibility and inclusive buildings, students are now Certified Inclusivity Assessors able to conduct inclusivity assessments.
“Inclusive access to public buildings is a civil right for people with disabilities, which should be better promoted and has a lot of room to improve,” says Kim. “It is critical for students, as future venue managers, to acknowledge the importance of and understand the standards for inclusive access. I believe this project will help students be more aware of the issues and become advocates for inclusive access.”
Students in the class found the certification process extremely helpful. “I was met with a new sense of profound awareness about making public recreation areas and buildings accessible for all people of all ages no matter what circumstances they might have,” says Sam Marteka. Student Jack Lerner adds, “you don’t really think about all the different aspects of inclusion until you complete the inclusivity audit, but now when I enter a building or facility, inclusion is always on my mind.”
Sport management student says vibrant Orange spirit brought him to Syracuse
“Whether grabbing pizza at Varsity on Marshall Street, studying in Bird Library or sitting in class, everywhere you look you see others wearing orange, the color of their beloved University. This is why I love ’Cuse.” says Alec Bieber ’19. “It’s an amazing place to be.”
Alec is from Scarsdale, New York, located just North of New York City. Following his mother’s lead, a Syracuse alumna of the Class of 1988, Alec grew up visiting campus to cheer on the Orange in the Carrier Dome every winter.
But Alec didn’t start his college career at Syracuse. After spending his freshman year at another university, undecided about his major, the undeniable school spirit at Syracuse University captured his attention. “Not being at SU my freshman year simply felt wrong,” he says. “I visited campus and knew right away that Syracuse was the place I needed to spend my next three years of college. Just walking around, with every other student wearing Syracuse orange, made me realize how proud people are of the University.”
It was at Syracuse that Alec, an avid sports fan, discovered the sport management major at Syracuse University’s Falk College. “I could find no better major for me to combine my passion of sports and my ultimate career goals and aspirations.” He was accepted into the program and transferred to Syracuse University in 2016.
Now, two years later, Alec is completing his senior capstone in New York City, where he has been working for Lagardère Sports & Entertainment since May as a Strategic Consulting Intern for Lagardère Plus, gaining real-world experience. And this is the third internship he’s had at while at Syracuse, previously at Morgan Stanley and then at MLB Advanced Media in the E-Commerce department, which fixed his career choice in sport management.
Even when he’s far from campus, Alec feels supported by sport management faculty and staff, including internship placement coordinator Francesco Riverso. “The advisors are all easy to contact, talk to and are always looking out for their students. From day one, Francesco has helped me find internships and get involved,” he says. In Falk College, every major has dedicated internship coordinators to connect students to opportunities regionally and internationally. “Whether it is emailing about postings, checking over cover letters or resumes, or just giving advice for phone or video interviews, the advising staff has been phenomenal.”
Alec is minoring in public communications studies in Newhouse. So, it’s no surprise that his two favorite courses “by far” have both been with professor of practice, Dennis Deninger, an Emmy-award winning television production executive with 25 years of experience at ESPN. “Learning about the history and evolution of sport communications in the world is extremely interesting. Professor Deninger is profoundly knowledgeable about the sport media landscape and is enthusiastic about his work. He has, without a doubt, had a large impact on my college education and career desires.”
“This is why I wanted to be in the sport management program,” he adds. “The professors’ professional backgrounds align with my goals and their in- and out-of-class help and knowledge are always incredibly insightful.”
Similarly, Alec has been inspired and mentored by the alumni connections at SU, particularly alumnus Brandon Steiner, chairman of the Sport Management Advisory Council and CEO of Steiner Sports. “I’ve known Brandon for number of years, and as I have matured and began my career, he has always stood as a source of inspiration and guidance,” he says.
In his career, Alec hopes to head his own sport talent agency or sport media company.
Sport management to host professional development event for alumni, students
On November 9, the Falk College Department of Sport Management will host its second annual SPM 205 2.0 – SPM Alumni in #SportsBiz [Now We’re the Pros] professional development and networking event for alumni and current students in sport management, sport analytics, and sport venue and event management.
Director and chair of the Department of Sport Management, Michael Veley will host a welcome luncheon for alumni at 12 p.m. in Falk College Room 335.
At 1 p.m. in Grant Auditorium, Sport Management advisory council member Michael Duda, co-founder and managing partner of Bullish Inc., will deliver the keynote address. Bullish Inc. is a marketing and consumer investment-driven investment company. Duda has spent 25 years in the world of Madison Avenue, including 13 at Deutsch Inc. as partner and chief corporate strategy officer.
The event will continue with breakout alumni panel sessions with students from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a networking hour. Alumni are invited to cheer on the Orange in the Carrier Dome and register for the 5:30 p.m. Syracuse University Alumni Association football tailgate vs. Louisville.
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