‘Cuse Conversations Podcast: How the Rising Popularity of Esports Led to Syracuse University’s Newest Degree Program
Sport Management News
Intro to Esports
Syracuse University will soon begin offering a new, first-of-its-kind degree program focused on esports. The esports communications and management program will be offered jointly by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
Syracuse University will soon begin offering a new, first-of-its-kind degree program focused on esports.
The esports communications and management program, offered jointly by Falk College and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, will include three tracks:
- esports business and management, covering such topics as sport promotion, sport venue management and finance for emerging enterprises;
- esports communications, including coursework in virtual reality storytelling, esports and advertising, public relations principles, and sports in the metaverse; and
- esports media and design, focused on 3D animation, game experience design and virtual production.
A recent ‘Cuse Conversations podcast examines why the time was right for Syracuse University to add an esports degree program, shares how the new academic offering will position students for success once they graduate, explains the research that went into creating this program, and discusses the rapid growth of esports on campus.
Read more in this Syracuse University News story about the creation of this groundbreaking program.
’Cuse Conversations: How The Rising Popularity of Esports Led to Syracuse University’s Newest Degree Program
Electronic sports, or esports, has seen a remarkable spike in popularity over the years, with a recent study from Pew Research finding that 90% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 play video games. Seeking to both capitalize on the tremendous popularity of esports and continue to innovate, expand career options in emerging fields and deliver academic programs that meet its students’ needs, Syracuse University will soon begin offering a new, first-of-its-kind degree program focused on esports.
John Boccacino:
Hello and welcome back to the ‘Cuse Conversations Podcast. I’m John Boccacino, Senior Internal Communications Specialist at Syracuse University.
Hello and welcome back to the ‘Cuse Conversations Podcast. I’m John Boccacino, Senior Internal Communications Specialist at Syracuse University.
John Boccacino:
Hello and welcome back to the ‘Cuse Conversations Podcast. I’m John Boccacino, Senior Internal Communications Specialist at Syracuse University.
Jeff Rubin:
You can take a very business business-centric approach to Esports. You can take a communication centric, such as shoutcasting to Esports. You can take a technical approach to Esports, such as game development. You could take a design-centric approach such as computer graphics, animation. We can look at Esports in the metaverse. Now we’re dealing with VR in AR. There’s not a mold that says when you graduate with this degree, this is where you’re going to end up. I think it’s quite the opposite, and that’s why it was so important that we create those tracks is to allow the students some flexibility to choose the path that makes the most sense for them.
John Boccacino:
Starting in the fall of 2024, Syracuse is offering a new, first of its kind degree program that’s focused on Esports. The program, Esports Communications and Management will be offered jointly by both the Newhouse School and the Falk College. And it will include three tracks, Esports Business and Management, Esports Communications and Esports Media and Design. Our guest today played an instrumental role in getting this program off the ground. His name is Jeff Rubin, Special Advisor to Chancellor Syverud on Esports and Digital Transformation. Jeff, thanks for making the time to join us today.
Jeff Rubin:
Thanks for having me, John.
John Boccacino:
This is exciting. I tell you, it really seems like it wasn’t that long ago that Esports occupied this dark corner in society, and now we’re bringing it mainstream and it’s been really bursting at the seams here on campus for the last couple of years. How does it feel to have this program out there in the news public?
Jeff Rubin:
It really, it’s unbelievable. And to think how quickly this happened, there are folks who told me, you want to start a new major on campus is going to be two, three. I heard as long as four, as many as four years that it would take to bring a new major on campus. But this is really a testament to, I think, how popular Esports has become and how many folks wanted to… Or who saw the opportunity and said, there’s really something here. And so it wasn’t me, it was a group of deans and faculty and staff working together and got this accomplished.
John Boccacino:
Give our audience a little background into the foundational framework. What was already in place on campus that made up move like this possible?
Jeff Rubin:
Esports or gaming was trickled throughout the university in various areas. VPA has a computer gaming minor. Our university college or College of Professional Studies has a program in Esports. We’ve got Chris Hansen out of Arts and Sciences who teaches course on Esports, one along with Olivia Stomski from Newhouse. We have Sport Management in Falk who is touching on various aspects of Esports. So it was all out there in various pieces, but then you combine that with alumni who were constantly reaching out saying, who can we hire? We’re looking for more talent. These are alumni that are working with Esports companies. And you combine that with Microsoft, who, as you know is trying to complete the 69 billion acquisition of Activation and Blizzard, Microsoft’s largest acquisition in the history, which is pretty incredible. And that’s in Esports. So when you take all these pieces together, you realize that we had more than a foundation. We had courses, we had people, we had alumni, we have potential corporate partners out there. And so to me it was, wow, how do we just put these pieces together to form the puzzle?
John Boccacino:
We recognize the value of a degree for our students, and we always try to offer our students with that unique first class educational opportunities that will parlay into real world job experiences. How do you think this Esports program is going to position us as a leader when it comes to this blossoming industry?
Jeff Rubin:
Esports, like any… Esports is an industry, as you said, just like sports. And so it’s not that you graduate with a degree in Sport Management and you just, you’re pigeonholed into one area. And Esports is similar to that in that you can take a very business centric approach to Esports. You can take a communication centric, such as shoutcasting to Esports. You can take a technical approach to Esports, such as game development. You could take a design-centric approach such as computer graphics, animation. We can look at Esports in the Metaverse now we’re dealing with VR in AR.
And of course we have some of our own students who are influencers themselves who are looking to build their brand and continue building their brand on platforms such as YouTube or Twitch. And so there’s not a mold that says when you graduate with this degree, this is where you’re going to end up. I think it’s quite the opposite, and that’s why you mentioned the tracks, and why it was so important that we create those tracks is to allow the students some flexibility to choose the path that makes the most sense for them, and then come out with a degree that from business to tech, there’s an opportunity for them.
John Boccacino:
And what kind of benchmarking and research went into the thought processes that eventually led to those three tracks that encompass this program.
Jeff Rubin:
So we had both internal and external factors that contributed to this. So on the internal side, originally we spoke to every dean, or I spoke to every dean on campus and every dean then brought in at least one representative as part of this subcommittee that was exploring this. Now, quickly it became apparent that there were some schools that this wasn’t a perfect fit for, and others which were along for the ride. And then in addition, we did an external study with a third party where they benchmarked Esports and what was going on across the nation at other universities. We are the first R1 institution, so a top level research institution to have an Esports major. And that became apparent through this research that we would be, had this gone through and gotten approved as it did.
But we did look at other programs across the country that had minors that offered classes, that were competing at a club level, that were competing at a varsity level. So that was some of that third party research. And then we brought in some consultants to help us as well to think about how do we, not just the academic piece is important, but how do we make sure we also have the facilities and the labs to support the extracurricular side of Esports or a living learning lab, if you will, within an Esports.
John Boccacino:
Playing into that comment right there, I know that the Barnes Center has a phenomenal Esports lab and Esports center. What else will be added as far as resources and facilities to really fulfill the vision of this program?
Jeff Rubin:
So in the Barnes Center today, I mean, which is awesome. So I’m a Syracuse grad, graduated many decades ago. We didn’t have the Barnes Center, but if you go into the Barnes Center and you go into the Esports room, it’s awesome. There’s 36 high-end gaming consoles on lightning fast internet connections. They have Xbox Xs, they have PlayStation fives with ginormous flat screen televisions. They have a streaming booth that that’s in there, where students, we kind of talked about that a minute ago. Where they can be an influencer and there’s lights and cameras and a mixer and a green screen and they can do their thing. But that room, it’s 36 high-end computers. And while that sounds great the first time I said it, when you think of the population of our undergraduates, that’s not enough. And so we realized that now when we go to add a major, that’s only going to put more pressure.
And some of what we were hearing wasn’t, that just wasn’t enough. That space is typically filled. But it was also that we have a club on campus, which also has a competitive component to it. We have gamers who are playing competitively locally, nationally, and internationally, and they can’t use that room to compete, because there’s other folks in there playing with their friends. And also there was no place for these clubs to train to practice. So we took all of this feedback from our students, as well as from the third parties, and looked at what other folks were doing, and we said, we need at least two more spaces. And so we’re going to be building out a space in the Schine Student Center, kind of a showcase space similar to what’s in Barnes. It’ll be a recreational space with additional consoles and additional Xboxes and PlayStations, but also more getting into virtual reality space simulation, racing pods.
And then you get yourself over to Marley. So our newly acquired Marley building near Crouse Hinds Hall. And in that space, we’re also going to do everything I just said, plus there’s going to be a competition space. And with that competition space comes an area for spectator seating, which is, as you look at Esports, people are watching Esports and being entertained the same way they watch traditional sports. And so we now have, with these three spaces, a place for recreational use as well as a place for our teams to practice, and as well as a place for our teams to compete and our students to have fans watch them compete.
John Boccacino:
It really seems like it’s going to, any program we add, it’s going to enhance the holistic development of the student experience here on campus. What do you think are some of the opportunities that this is going to create for both students? And then also faculty and staff too, what are some ways that this is going to really just take our campus to the next level?
Jeff Rubin:
Look, I think there’s tremendous research opportunities in this space. So as much as we talk about how great Esports are, there’s also a lot of discrimination, bias, Esports trend more towards male than female. And so when we look along the lines of gender equity, racial equity, these are areas where the ethics that go along with Esports, the accessibility factors that go along with Esports, meaning that allowing anybody to play regardless of cognitive or physical limitations. These are areas where I think Syracuse University is going to excel.
You know how important DEIA is to Syracuse University. And I think this now allows us to take our DEIA principles and attach them to what’s going on in the Esports world, which is maybe a way that’s going to resonate more than others to our students. Because 90, I think I saw says 97, 98% of students, or of kids the age of 13 to 17 year olds are playing video games. And so this is something that may resonate with them more than maybe something else we’re trying to do. And at the same time, give our faculty an opportunity to go do, or continue to do some world-class research in these areas.
John Boccacino:
You mentioned earlier that you kind of initially were greeted with a little bit of pushback just as far as the speed and how long it would take to get this off the ground. Let’s kind of pull back the curtain. Who gets some credit for really helping advance this down the pike to make it a reality a lot faster than I think you thought it might have been possible.
Jeff Rubin:
It was the team… It was to the subcommittee that I talked about, which Dean Murphy, Dean Lodato, their leadership and vision because was… One thing we haven’t talked about, John, is that this is the first major on campus that is dually owned. It’s not a dual major. It is a dually owned major, and it doesn’t exist. So you needed two strong leaders willing to be able to say, let’s be innovative, let’s try something new. And they needed to have that leadership to convince, if that’s the right word, their faculty that this was the right decision. Because they needed their faculty be on board. Let’s understand the process curriculum needs to go through is starting… If the deans like this, or oftentimes it’s actually the faculty that bring this through, then it’s got to go through curriculum committees within these schools, then it’s got to go before their entire faculty, then it has to go to the University Senate, then it has to go to New York State Department of Education. There’s a lot of hoops.
So that leadership by the Deans was critical, but I think it’s because of the trust those Deans had on the folks on the subcommittee, Olivia Stomski, Michael Veley, Gina Pauline were incredible, Chris Hansen. They were trusted and believable. So then I think, once you get it past the school level, now you look at the leadership from our Provost and our Chancellor. So Provost Ritter and Chancellor Syverud both backed this major. They both thought this was an area that was important for the university to grow in. That matters, to have their vote of confidence. They can’t push it through the University Senate, but to have their vote of confidence in the process and in what we were doing helped tremendously. And then it was a package where we then took this whole package, we sent it off to New York state. And to be honest there, I think we were all a little surprised at how quick we got approval.
John Boccacino:
It’s really commendable that the teamwork, the collaboration, and again, the fact that we are the first R1 research institution to add this type of program is just another example of the unique offerings and the ways we make a difference in the lives of our students, our faculty, and our staff. And it’s really been remarkable, Jeff, because we kind of joked a little bit earlier about Esports wasn’t really in the mainstream when we were going to college back in the dark ages. It’s really… For both of us, of course, we’ve been out of school for quite some time. When did you start to see, from a casual perspective, this Esports rise where it creeped from being not mainstream to being so prevalent?
Jeff Rubin:
Yeah, it’s a fair question. And I can’t say a specific date or time. I think it’s been over the last decade that you’ve watched this movement. And perhaps it’s me watching my children grow up. So I have two teenage sons, and watching them grow up in a way that I didn’t. So I grew up with an Atari and an Nintendo and eventually upgraded to a Sega. And I also went outside and I played traditional sports. And I watched my kids who had such a different experience in that they weren’t even excited to watch live traditional sports, but they were very excited to watch Esports, which to this day still doesn’t resonate with my brain of watching folks on Twitch or YouTube play Esports, but it resonates with them.
And then I’d watch them play these games the same way I might have played a pickup basketball game. It takes different skills, both mentally and physically, to be able to play, but it’s a generational change. And I think when I saw that, to me it was, huh, it’s not that my kids are abnormal. This is what they’re doing. Now, you add a global pandemic, which pushes everyone into their homes where we can’t go play traditional sports where we’re afraid to be with our next door neighbor. Well, Esports is just, what a better way. They’re socializing. It’s their way of socializing. And while maybe folks in my generation or your generation, or our generation, I’m going to put us in the same group here, John.
John Boccacino:
You can do that. We’re close in age, I feel like.
Jeff Rubin:
So the folks that maybe we don’t fully get it, the same way the generation before us didn’t truly get us right. And so I think to me that was it is I was seeing it firsthand. And then more on the business side of what I do, I was witnessing it that we had brands and sponsors that were interested in investing in Esports. You were beginning to see universities across the country promote their Esport teams from club to varsity. So you were beginning to see these shifts happen, which says, wow, if all this is going on externally, well then internally on campus, we better pay attention. And in my mind, capitalize on an opportunity.
John Boccacino:
Now with the program starting to take students in the fall of 2024, what kind of goals do we have in the initial stages for this new program?
Jeff Rubin:
So we’re going to start off small, John. And so right now we’re in the process of hiring our Executive Director of the Esports program. And so that that’s happening as we speak that process. And then over this coming academic year, the 23/24 academic year, that executive director will help form the faculty, make sure that the classes that we propose are the right classes, the advising team, the admissions, et cetera. So when the class of ’24 comes in, we are ready to go.
Now we anticipate accepting a smaller class, around 30 students in the fall of ’24 to meet our mark, or to meet our goal. That’s going to allow us to grow this, I think at the right speed where we’re not going to go too large. And I think a similar path, John, to what our sports analytics program did. Sports analytics started off small within Falk, said that they were going to add about five people a year over four years, but by year two, the growth was hockey stick. And so look, we’ve got to be careful for that. We got to make sure we can support this, but I believe the demand is going to be hockey stick growth, and then we will see what we’re comfortable doing. But we’re going to start off with 30, evaluate and grow from there.
John Boccacino:
It’s really exciting. Anytime you can add an innovative and game changing major program like this, not to make a pun with game changing and Esports, but it’s it. It’s so cool because these are opportunities that weren’t available to you and me when we were undergraduates studying at Syracuse. And the next generation, we’re always talking about ways to make that student experience better for the next generation. I can hardly think of a better example than adding a cutting edge program like this. Jeff, I want to thank you for the expertise you’ve shared here on the podcast today, for taking us inside the room as to what it took to get this program off the ground. Keep up the great work and continued success.
Jeff Rubin:
Thank you so much, John. Thanks for having me today.
Olivia Stomski:
We are so excited to have the opportunity to have these hands-on experiences for our students so that when that they leave here, they have had actual industry. And that’s what we are working towards for Esports as well. The idea of connecting our students with industry leaders and utilizing our alums for that, looking at how we’re able to create benchmark trips for our students so that they have an opportunity to not only network, but to learn from industry leaders within Esports. And so, really the idea of what we’re doing is that it can be anything we want it to be. If our students can think of it, or we as faculty and leaders can think of it, why not try it if it gives our students an opportunity to get that hands-on experiential learning, I think that’s really what sets it apart.
John Boccacino:
We are back on the Cuse Conversations Podcast, and we are thrilled to welcome on. Olivia Stomski, the professor of Practice In Television, Radio, and Film in the Newhouse school. She’s also the Director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center and played an integral role in launching this new Esports degree program. Olivia, thanks. Making the time to join us.
Olivia Stomski:
Thanks for having me. This is an exciting topic to talk about.
John Boccacino:
Isn’t it? There’s been so much momentum building towards this, and I know you have a lot of history with Esports, you and Chris Hansen co-taught a great course, Esports And Media that’s been around since 2018. We’re going to hear from Chris coming up later on in this episode, but give our audience your perspective. Why was the time perfect to add this program now?
Olivia Stomski:
Yeah, so you’re right. I have been working with Esports here on campus really since the year that I got here in 2018. The late Dean Lorraine Branham was such a visionary that she wanted to make sure that as a Newhouse Sports Media Center grew, and as our curriculum grew around sports here in Newhouse, that Esports was a part of that. And so she really challenged me to research, to jump into the world a little bit more than I even had been in the past and figure out what our students needed to know and learn about the industry. So Chris and I did create the Esports media class, and it’s been absolute honor to work with Chris. He is just brilliant and the students love him, and his experience has been awesome. So it’s been great to be a part of.
But as the process really started from there, it was the idea of what other classes, courses, curriculum, could we create here on campus, not just in Newhouse, but across campus, whether that be in Falk, the I School, VPA, what did we want to do? Would this be a minor? Was this, how were we going to do this? So, like anything else, it just has to be the right time in the right place. And so when the Chancellor’s Office, and the Provost came to us to investigate whether or not this was an avenue that the university wanted to really go down, our research showed that it was exactly the right time. As the industry is growing, there is not an R1 university with this kind of program right now. And I think the message it sends not only to our students, but to the industry, is we’re going to invest in this. We’re going to create experts in Esports. We have three different tracks I’m sure we’ll get into. And it just was the right time, so we’re excited.
John Boccacino:
Just how involved was this process of researching industry trends, but also the needs and wants of our students that led to the addition of the program?
Olivia Stomski:
Well, it took up about two years of my life. And all of us on the committee, it was the idea of if we were going to do this, we needed to do it right, and we were willing to do that. So we had an awesome committee, and as you well know that the program will be 50/50 with Falk and Newhouse. So our research was not just at other universities and what they were doing, which it did entail a lot of that, but also the industry and what parts of the industry were growing? What were the skills that a lot of people were looking for in this industry? How could we develop those skills? And so that process took some time, and it took a lot of attention to what we wanted our program to be.
So here at Newhouse, we created 11 new courses, and it was imperative that we do that and we invest that time. And so there was a lot of figuring out, more than anything, how can we serve our students? And so that was the most important thing. How can we be prepared for our students to succeed in Esports? And how can we prepare them to have the skills, some transferrable to other industries, that would help them to be career ready when they left here? And so it was all encompassing. For a few months, we all kind of ate and slept and breathed Esports. You would go to a meeting and on my calendar would just say Esports meeting. And I would think to myself, which meeting is this? Until I showed up, I wasn’t really sure. Once I figured out who was in the room, I was like, oh, okay, we’re talking facilities today. Okay, got it. Curriculum today. Okay, good. Okay. Student experience. Okay, that’s great too. So all of this is important for us to have the program that we want.
John Boccacino:
And you mentioned earlier the three different tracks, and we heard from Jeff Rubin giving his perspective on it. From your side of the equation, with your industry knowledge and expertise, what made the three tracks, again, their Esports Business and Management, Esports Communications and Esports Media and Design, why did those stand out as the right tracks to pursue with this program?
Olivia Stomski:
Well, we took a deep dive into the industry itself. What areas within the industry were thriving? Who was hiring and who were they hiring? And so we wanted to make sure that we were best preparing experts in these industries. And so the one thing I will say is that we learned very quickly that storytelling within Esports and within gaming is growing. And the importance of storytelling is growing as well. We’re seeing that. And so that there’s an underlying aspect of storytelling in a lot of the classes here at Newhouse.
And so it was a long-drawn-out process to come up with these three tracks, but our research showed that this is where the jobs are, this is where the industry is going. We really felt that within these tracks, there were several other career paths that would make sense for our students when they left here with this set of skills. And so that was really where we wanted to make sure we were offering what students wanted. It’s not just Esports, we’re not majoring and playing video games, John, that’s not what we’re doing. But we wanted to make sure that our students were prepared for the aspects of the industry that are really starting to grow, but most importantly, are hiring now.
John Boccacino:
And we’ve seen a lot of these interdisciplinary studies and concentrations come out of Syracuse, with partnerships across different schools and colleges. Just how special is it going to be for a student that enrolls in the fall of ’24 knowing that they’re going to have access to Falk, they’re going to have access to Newhouse and the I School and Arts and Sciences. This is such a cross collaboration.
Olivia Stomski:
It really is. I always tell the story that when I got here, I thought silos were on farms. I didn’t understand the idea of working in silos. I didn’t even know the term literally. And so, one of the first things I did was to go over to Falk and say, hey, anyone want to build something with me? And I got really lucky. Michael Feeley and Gina Pauline and Rick Burton said, hey, I do do that. We have so many of the same students and our students want to cross over. We want to make sure that we’re giving our students a wide variety of courses, and the freedom to learn, and not just put them in a box. And so there is room in this curriculum for open electives, which means students have the freedom to take classes across campus. And those classes and those skills are so important for their careers, but also is what sets apart our students here at SU is that they have the opportunity to learn more than just what their one craft is.
And so it’s an honor. There aren’t names bigger than Falk and Newhouse, really, that is an awesome thing to be able to walk off campus with both those names in your back pocket. But more than that, it’s all about the people. It’s about the faculty day of access to, the staff, they have access to the facilities. And it’s important for our Syracuse University students to feel like they can go anywhere on campus and be allowed to learn, ask questions, be curious, but also create a skillset that’s uniquely theirs, be based on what classes they’ve taken.
John Boccacino:
With regards to focusing on the student success piece of it, regardless of what the degree program is, we really pride ourselves on setting our students up for success, both when they’re on campus and once they graduate. What are some of the hands-on experiences that students in the Esports degree program will be able to take advantage of to then reach those post-graduation goals?
Olivia Stomski:
So one of the things that I’m most excited about is the opportunity to host large events here on campus, to host large in-person Esports competitions. And why that makes me so excited is the number of students in different parts of the major that will be able to be involved. So not only is there a competition that will involve our Esports teams and the competitors, but we’re looking at the production, the promotion of it, the actual event itself, and managing that event, the budget of that event, the camera operators that will be involved, the social media that will be involved, our students shoutcasting and reporting on this event. And so we are so excited to have the opportunity to have these hands-on experiences for our students so that when they leave here, they have had actual industry.
We often say that when there’s a job description that says a minimum of three to five years experience, Newhouse takes care of that for you. You leave Newhouse with three to five years experience. And that’s what we are working towards for Esports as well. And Falk does that as well. The idea of connecting our students with industry leaders and utilizing our alums for that, looking at how we’re able to create benchmark trips for our students so that they have an opportunity to not only network, but to learn from industry leaders within Esports. And so really the idea of what we’re doing is that it can be anything we want it to be. If our students can think of it, or we as faculty and leaders can think of it, why not try it if it gives our students an opportunity to get that hands-on experiential learning, I think that’s really what sets it apart.
John Boccacino:
And it’s nothing different from if you’re watching a basketball or a football game in the Dome with the Newhouse Sports Media Center. You all are working with the ACC network or whatever carrier is broadcasting the game to give the students on campus those experiences. But doesn’t, this wasn’t always the case where Esports would draw national attention, media attention. Can you think back to when this started to see the light as far as wanting to broadcast and give the attention to Esports that we do to say football or other sports?
Olivia Stomski:
Yeah, I mean, I think it’s been a slow burn, but not everything that happened during the pandemic was bad. And I think that the pandemic definitely had a role in the popularity or the push towards Esports. Traditional sports fans didn’t have sports to watch. And so I’ve been teaching this class since 2018, and I would have friends that work in the industry call me and say, I don’t know if what I’m watching is real or not. I’m watching a car race and it’s on ESPN, but I think it might not be real. And it’s like, okay, now you’re starting to understand what is out there. And so I think that more than anything, the big push was probably during the pandemic, but I say that and there’s millions of Esports competitors and fans that are like, no, it happened well before that. And so I think, if anything, the pandemic helped those that weren’t paying attention pay attention.
John Boccacino:
And when you mentioned broadcast storytelling is such a huge part of taking you inside the arena to get to know these athletes. What are some of the ways you envision the Esports program and our students telling those stories? What are the platforms they might be capitalizing on? I’m sure there’s things we aren’t even thinking of now with how ever-evolving this industry is.
Olivia Stomski:
Well, I think there’s a lot of opportunity here, not only for us to look at Esports as another avenue for journalism, for production. But more than that, the storytelling really happens within games. And the idea, I think that we need to not neglect here is that games have really changed over the last few years as we’re starting to take the spectator into account for what we’re doing. It’s not just the person playing, it’s the spectators as well. And we’re seeing that we, as humans, we’re hungry for stories. We want a backstory, who is this character? And what we’re able to do through gaming and through Esports is create that story ourselves as fans or as operators of this game. So you can choose who your character is, you can choose where they go, you can choose how they operate, and who they talk to and what they’re doing and all of this.
So we’re creating these stories on every level, not only as content creators, but as users of these interfaces. And so a lot of our classes are going to be centralized around that. Understanding that virtual production, understanding how we can create stories, levels within games themselves to not only utilize gaming as instruction, but also a chance for us to engage more as users and as spectators within that. So this is a whole school full of storytellers. You know that we love it and we love to listen to stories. We love to tell our stories. Most importantly, we love to tell other people’s stories, those that can’t tell their own. And Esports is just another avenue for us to do that.
John Boccacino:
There’s also big money to be made in Esports too, which I think was a little confusing for me at first as to how is there revenue? But you think about it, these are people that can market themselves. How do you think that’s going to play into this new degree program too, almost like a name, image and likeness and marketing? How is that going to play out with the program?
Olivia Stomski:
Well, I will tell you that one of the first meetings when we decided to even teach an Esports class, I had someone ask me, so when I tell my child that they’re not going to become a millionaire playing video games, am I lying to them? And everyone in the room laughed and I said, you might be. You might be lying to them. I don’t know. And so there is a lot of money to be made, and you’re right, in some cases it is similar to NIL in looking at how do we build our own brands? Who do we want to be, and what kind of content do we want to create? We’re always making those decisions, and we’re thinking about that is storytellers. We’re thinking about that as journalists, we’re thinking about that as producers and content creators. And there’s so many unanswered questions.
I had a student ask me a few years ago, do Esports athletes have agents? Well, they do. So thinking about that, well, maybe I want to be an agent. Maybe I want to own a league. Maybe I want to create a league, maybe I want to own my own team. These are all things that our students are navigating with the rest of the world. If we think that it’s an opportunity, then it might be. And so I think it’s important for our students to learn all about that. And that’s one of the great things about this connection with Falk, because we’re able to take that storyteller and that communicator, and we’re mixing it with that business and the analytics there. So we’re able to connect the two for these students to finish with this well-rounded experience in education. And that I think will only be helpful for them as they’re building their own brands, those that choose to do that.
John Boccacino:
Don’t worry about 30, 40 years ago, I was told the same thing by my folks that there was not money to be made playing video games. But that seems like it really, like you said, has changed dramatically. From what you’ve witnessed, and I know that you aren’t a game designer, for example, but you have your hands and your fingers on the pulse of Esports. Is it possible to quantify just how much growth this area and this industry has experienced?
Olivia Stomski:
Most importantly, we need to look at how much the culture of Esports in our stereotypes around Esports and gaming has changed. So we want to look at who are the sponsors? Who are the biggest promoters within Esports, and who are the people that are the targeting, who’s the target market? And we’re seeing that, in fact, the education is quite high in those that identify as gamers, therefore the income is quite high and their buying possibilities are quite high. So this is all growing, and it’s important for our students to understand where the money comes from, and who it goes to and how that works. We teach that in the Esports and Media class.
And so we’re seeing it not quite double in size and in the amount of money that is actually going into the industry, but for the first few years, it nearly did double, and it’s growing at quite a quick and rapid pace, partially due to the number of platforms that our students, but young people have access to how much they are going to these events in person, creating these large arenas full of fans. And so it’s growing. We’re seeing it grow exponentially, but then also, where will it go? Any other newer industry, it has to start somewhere. There was a Super Bowl One, and we’re seeing so many of the firsts still within Esports that it’s hard to say exactly where it is going, but it has been moving at such a rapid pace that we don’t see it slowing down.
John Boccacino:
It’s reassuring too, to know that Syracuse University is going to be at the forefront, again as the first R1 research institution to add an Esports degree program. It’s been a pleasure and an honor having on Olivia Stomski, the Professor of Practice in Television, Radio, and Film in the Newhouse School, she also directs the Newhouse Sports Media Center, giving our students hands-on experiences that are going to branch out-and-out of the Esports realm as well. Olivia, thank you for the time and keep up the great work.
Olivia Stomski: Great, thank you.
Chris Hanson:
I’ve been involved with thinking about the major since before Esports were even a thing on campus. I see it as sort of a natural extension, and part of the growth of gaming communities on campus and the sport of more courses in gaming, but also supporting students who are interested in gaming and Esports in general.
John Boccacino:
Chris Hanson, the Associate Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, who also serves as the faculty advisor for the University’s gaming club and the Esports club, and he played a large integral role in developing the coursework for this new Esports degree program. What has your involvement been with getting this Esports degree program up and running?
Chris Hanson:
So as you’re probably aware, a number of years ago, about five years ago or so, Professor Stomski and I started teaching an Esports and Media class, we were co-teaching this class in Newhouse, and that sort of stemmed from both of our interest in Esports and the student interest in learning more about Esports, and the sort of rapidly expanding world of Esports. So we had been teaching that class, and then Professor Stomski and I had sort of been advocating for that there should be some sort of curricular development around Esports, given how much interest there was, and it seemed like a really cool opportunity for the university. And certainly something which students are very interested in and passionate about. And we were sort of saying to whoever would listen that we think there should be more courses around Esports. And Professor Gina Pauline in Sport Management in Falk was leading a… We were doing curricular design under her guidance and leadership for thinking about what an Esports minor might look like.
And then it said it became apparent after the success of the Esports room in the Barnes Center. To back up even further, I had been teaching courses on games at SU for a number of years, and there’s a computer gaming minor as well at SU in VPA in Visual Performing Arts in the department, which is now called Film and Media Arts. But this minor, students, when they took my games classes, said they were really interested in taking this minor, but unfortunately, some of the courses for the minor weren’t being offered, and the minor hadn’t really been updated. And so I worked with the folks in Film and Media Arts, in Computer Art and Animation to get this minor going and supported again. And as part of that, students were interested in forming a gaming club. The students in my classes said, I came to SU to try to do this gaming minor, I’m really interested in studying gaming, and they’re also interested in building communities around people who are interested in playing games.
So they said, there’s not a gaming club. And I said, well, you should start one. Let’s start an RSO. So they started an RSO for gaming, and I still serve as the faculty advisor for that. And as part of that, we were looking at, started talking to people in IT and different parts of the administration about where places we might be able to build a community space, a gaming space for students. So we looked at a number of different locations as part of that, and it’s when Esports started to become popular and get on the register of more and more people that we thought, well, this could be an Esports space. And so that evolved from a sort of community gaming space to an Esports room, and that suddenly took off. And the idea to put it in the Barnes Center came forth, and that seemed like a really logical place to put it, given the update to the Barnes Center that was taking place.
And then students approached about starting an Esports RSO, and they talked about linking with the gaming RSO, but decided ultimately to do their own RSO. And so I helped and served as the faculty advisor for that when they started off. Explosive growth of the Esports RSO and how popular the Esports has become with students and popularity of the Esports room in the Barnes Center. To use the Field of Dream things, it’s like they built it and now students have come in droves. They’ve just like… It’s been extremely popular.
And all of that, I think helped to serve as a clear sign that there was… It was like Professor Stomski, Professor Pauline and I and others, Professor Rick Burton in Sport Management, who also teaches a class in Esports have been advocating for thinking about how to grow this at the university. And then it’s like, well, let’s maybe make a major around Esports. So then that transformed into, there was a curriculum committee that was created for creating the major. And that a lot of that work took place in, let’s see, last year. So that would be in 2022, about trying to design this new major and what it might look like.
And it was decided that it would be split between Falk and Newhouse. So sorting out how that would fit within existing courses, but also what new coursework might be offered to support this major. So I see it as sort of a natural extension and part of the growth of gaming communities on campus and the sport of more courses in gaming, but also supporting students who are interested in gaming and Esports in general.
John Boccacino:
When did the Esports RSO become established on this campus? And what has the growth been in membership, in participation and the overall impact of that organization on campus?
Chris Hanson:
When I say the sort of explosive growth of it, I believe that it went from being basically one of the newest RSOs on campus when it was formed to being now, I believe, one of the most popular RSOs in terms of membership, just the number of people who are signed up. It was just sort of like eye-popping in terms of its rapid growth. So I believe the Esports RSO was formed in 2018, and already in that short time, just a few short years, it’s become extremely popular on campus.
John Boccacino:
What do you attribute to that spike, that passionate, rabid interest in this RSO?
Chris Hanson:
There are several reasons for this, but to be honest, I think one of the main things is sort of a generational shift. I think that for many people of my generation, we grew up in a home where there was television in the living room, and that was the sort of place where you consumed media and consumed sports and that sort of thing. So you would sort of have access to sports that were on major networks, major linear networks. And that’s how people I think often become sports fans, either through family members, friends and so forth. They start to follow particular teams and that sort of thing.
Obviously, that landscape and the domestic landscape has shifted pretty considerably in the last 10, 15 years, where increasingly people have their own screens and access to be able to consume their own content. So rather than everyone watching a single screen at home, it’s not uncommon for a family to have everyone basically have access on their own screen, their own computer, phone, tablet, whatever. And so that allows then people to pursue their own interests. And I think when I say a generational shift, I think a lot of people who are now students or who will be coming future… Coming to SU in the coming years are people who grew up maybe consuming Esports in a way that just was not on the radar of people of an older generation. And they are highly invested in Esports and understanding the different teams, the different games, the different players of Esports in a way that is almost,
I’ve certainly spent a lot of time during this whole process trying to explain Esports and its relevance to people who are not familiar with it. And it is just, there’s always a sort of moment where people are just blown away by how popular it is. And when they see sports arenas, traditional sports arenas filled with fans who’ve gone to go see Esports events takes place, it sort of is like a light bulb moment of, wow, I had no idea that there were people who were going to a major sports venue to watch Esports rather than to go watch a traditional sports basketball, football, something similar, but they’re actually going there to watch Esports.
So I think that’s… Sort of this thing where it’s been growing steadily, and obviously it grew significantly in Korea, for instance, and other parts of the world before it became… The US is sort of catching up at this point, and still continues to. But it happened in a way that I think just may not be on the radar of a lot of people who, if they haven’t been interested or following Esports, it’s like what? They don’t even under… It’s like, what is Esports? And this is not just a generational thing. I mean, certainly there are people of my generation who may not be aware of Esports, but they’re also those who are hugely invested in Esports and follow it closely.
So I think it’s just sort of an interesting reflection of the ways in which this sort of proliferation of screens and access to media, for those who are able to afford it and be able to access technology, now can see and experience things like Esports that the person just sitting across the table from them may have no idea about.
John Boccacino:
The Twitch channels taking over, the popularity of watching folks gaming on YouTube channels. It’s a money-making industry and it’s really a revenue source for the university, but it’s also a great opportunity to enhance the development of our students in working with top-notch faculty. I love the three tracks that this program is outlining Esports Business and Management, Esports Communications and Esports Media and Design. From a faculty perspective, how can you explain how these courses, how these tracks will help set up our students for success?
Chris Hanson:
Well, I think that the tracks really reflect how interdisciplinary Esports and games and the game industry are by their very nature. Obviously, with the major being split between Falk and Newhouse, the tracks sort of speak to the expertise, and industry expertise, in those respective colleges. But it’s also to note that the tracks also draw from colleges beyond just Falk and Newhouse. So there’s coursework that’s taking place in other colleges, engineering, computer science, arts and sciences, visual and performing arts. There’s coursework that’s taking from all of these places. So game design courses, for instance, in Computer Art and Animation and Film and Media Arts in VPA. So the idea for… Because Esports and games are really interdisciplinary fields, they draw from a lot of different areas of expertise and skillset sets, that this then allows students to cater their experience and their interest in Esports and where they might to land after completing their degree at SU in a sort of field which reflects their interests and their own expertise.
And I think it’s really important to note that Esports is just a small chunk of games, and the game industry, I think it’s something like less than 5% of the games industry. The game industry is just an enormous behemoth. And there’s often, you still see these in publications of, oh, the games have made more than films this year, or something similar, but there’s just been this sort of meteoric rise in the size of the games industry. And these are, Esports is one component, one factor within this. And so I think what the three tracks really allow students to do is to benefit from the faculty expertise and the skillsets and the research that’s taking place within Falk and Newhouse, but then also beyond Falk and Newhouse to create a really robust interdisciplinary background, which will really help them to prepare for what is still a growing and emerging field.
John Boccacino:
If someone had told you when you started teaching these classes that would serve as a metamorphosis in a sense, to launch this degree program, just how surreal is it that we’re here now talking about this program coming to creation?
Chris Hanson:
It’s awesome to see. It’s amazing. It’s been really inspiring to see faculty from so many different corners of campus work together to try to create this. I can say that a long time ago worked in the game industry and had always been interested in studying and researching and going to grad school for studying games. But the sort of degrees and programs that I was interested in doing didn’t really exist when I had finished college, let alone at an undergraduate level. And when I first arrived at SU in 2010, I taught courses on film, on television, and on digital media, what was sometimes then called new media or emerging media and games were always a part of what I was teaching, but they were not necessarily a focus. And within a couple years, I started offering courses specifically on games, and they became, I mean, it’s probably not the most shocking development, but it turns out students are interested in taking courses on games.
And so these were very popular, and my interactions with students really helped to inspire me to create new courses on games and different levels of courses on games. So I teach courses everywhere from introductory lecture course for, not just incoming first year students, but other students interest in games to upper division courses on games and game history and cultures. We were talking a little bit earlier about interest in older game consoles, but also to graduate level courses in games. I’m teaching a graduate seminar in Game Studies, for instance now. And in all of these courses, what’s been really cool for me is that I teach in English and Arts and Sciences, and I certainly get a number of students within the major in English and Arts and Sciences, but also from Newhouse. I get students from Falk, from architecture, from VPA, the gaming people interested in the gaming minor or who are just doing computer art and animation or other things.
And I get students like a truly interdisciplinary blend of students in the class. And that’s been really awesome too, because it’s like everyone can sort of benefit from each other’s backgrounds and skillsets. The students can really help each other learn, basically. So yes, that’s a very long way of saying it’s pretty awesome. And it’s been… I don’t know that I would’ve believed it if you told me this, that 12, 13 years ago when I first came to SU, that there’d be this strong interest in Esports and gaming. And it’s been really awesome, because it’s something that I’ve been interested in and working on developing since coming to SU. How can we build games and understand them?
And I think that’s another area that I think the major signals is that games represent a really awesome opportunity for the university, really fantastic opportunity to build areas of research and expertise in the study of games, which are now one of the most dominant media industries on the planet, and don’t show… The games industry doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. And so as Esports being a component of this, I think is a really exciting, and you know, use the word surreal early, earlier that that to see this explosive growth and interest in, it’s great. It’s really, it’s exciting to see, and I’m excited to see where it will lead the university.
John Boccacino:
The fact that this popularity in this hobby has turned into such a lucrative profession for so many folks, so many students who want to get into the business, and of course, working with great faculty as part of the Esports degree program that we’ll launch in 2024. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the university. The fact that we’re growing the facilities too, I mean, the Esports room in the Barnes Center at the Arch is visually breathtaking when you walk in and you just see the resources. But we’re growing a lot more than just that Barnes Center at the Arch place for Esports gaming to take place for game development to take place. It’s a fascinating development here on our campus.
He is Chris Hanson, the associate professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, who also serves as the faculty advisor for the University’s gaming club and the Esports club, and he played a large, integral role in developing the coursework for this new Esports degree program. Chris, thanks for taking the time to stop by and share your expertise, and keep up the great work.
Chris Hanson:
Oh, thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it.
John Boccacino:
Thanks for checking out the latest installment of the ‘Cuse Conversations Podcast. My name is John Boccacino, signing off for the ‘Cuse Conversations Podcast.
Class of 2023 Sport Management Awards
Class of 2023 Honored with Sport Management and Sport Analytics Awards
Falk College’s Department of Sport Management is pleased to recognize the outstanding work of its undergraduate and graduate students in the Class of 2023 in sport management, sport analytics, and sport venue and event management. The Department of Sport Management held an awards celebration May 12 in Falk College. Students who were recognized for academic excellence, philanthropic work, and post-graduate plans included:
- 2023 Falk College Marshall: Alex Guo
- 2023 Sport Management Marshal: Brianne Quinlan
- 2023 Sport Analytics Marshal: John Asel
- 2023 Sport Venue and Event Management graduate student Marshal: Luke Frontale
Berlin Sport Analytics Scholars
These Sport Analytics seniors John Asel, Sam Auerbach, Alexander Borelli, Kylie Dedrick, Shane Halpin, Ikuo Kobayashi, Austin Murphy, Matthew Penn, Seth Quinn, Jeremy Rosenbaum, and Benjamin Wachtel were named Berlin Scholars for the 2022-2023 academic year. The scholarship is named for Andrew Berlin, who donated $1 million to Syracuse University’s sport analytics program in 2018.
Falk Scholars
Sport Analytics majors Alexander Borelli, Kylie Dedrick, Shane Halpin, Eli Miller, Matthew Penn, and Benjamin Wachtel were named Falk Scholars. Falk College Scholars represent undergraduate students in Falk College who display academic excellence, exceptional campus and community engagement, and personal integrity.
Sport Management Director’s Academic Achievement Award
Fifty students in the Department of Sport Management received the Director’s Academic Achievement Award for achieving a GPA of 3.4 or higher for each of their consecutive semesters at Syracuse University.
Sport Management: Alexander Chillemi, Maeva Collatos, Stephanie Deangelis, Juliana DiCenso, Kevin Donoghue, Rahul Dua, Alex Guo, Chuqi Fang, Alessandro Ferrari-Carrubba, Jake Fienberg, Melanie Kelly, Andrew Leconte, Juliano Macera, Chloe Moss, Benjamin Paglia, Alexandra Panaggio, Brianne Quinlan, Anthony Ruggiero, Eli Samuels, Maxwell Schobel, Ethan Shifman, Blake Taub, and Anna Theodosopoulos.
Sport Analytics: Ian Archer, Daniel Beim, Mitchell Bereznay, Alexander Borelli, Daniel Brockett, Elijah Buto, Robert Craig III, Kylie Dedrick, Philip Frank, Sam Gellman, Corey Goldman, Shane Halpin, Nolan Hammond, Gabriel Herz, Jackson Hett, Christopher Jones, Jordan Jones, Nicholas Lukowsky, Nathaniel Mahoney, Austin Murphy, Zachary Palfey, Matthew Penn, Seth Quinn, Robert Schoor, Brenden Slomka, Benjamin Wachtel, and Zachary Wood.
Sport Management Director’s Award – Blake Taub
This award is presented to a student with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who is a strong ambassador for the department, demonstrates exemplary service to the community, possesses strong professional sport industry experience, and is a strong mentor for other Sport Management majors.
Blake has embraced the entire mantra of our program. He has served as president of the Sport Management Club for two years. Most recently, Blake completed his senior Capstone internship at the Nashville Sports Council and interned with NASCAR, Point 3 Basketball, Cedar Stars Rush, CollectibleXchange, Sports Business Journal, and Rookie Road. Blake was part of a four-student team that represented the Department at a case study competition at the Sport Marketing Association Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, this past fall. He has been a wonderful ambassador for our program, and we are pleased to recognize his accomplishments with this honor.
Sport Management Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Nyah Jones
This award is presented to a student who will attend graduate or professional school, has attained a GPA of 3.5 or higher, is a strong ambassador for the department, demonstrates exemplary service to the community, possesses strong professional sport industry experience, and is a strong mentor for other Sport Management majors.
During her time at Syracuse University, Nyah interned with the Spisak Agency, Point 3 Basketball, Oak Hill Country Club, and Syracuse University Athletics. She also was involved with the Syracuse University Student Association and the Office of Student Living. She recently completed her senior Capstone with Priority Sports. Nyah will continue her post-graduate education this fall in Syracuse University’s Newhouse S.I. School of Public Communications to obtain her master’s degree.
Sport Management Academic Excellence Award – Benjamin Paglia
The Sport Management Academic Excellence Award recognizes a student with a GPA of 3.8 or higher.
During his time at Syracuse, Ben has interned with Legends, the Syracuse Crunch, the Scranton Rail Riders, The Season Ticket, Syracuse University Athletics, and Little League International. Ben is also a member of the Sport Management Club and worked as a Falk College Ambassador, all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. He will complete his Senior Capstone this summer with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Excellence Award – Megan Sheehan
This award is named after Matt Brodsky, a sport management major who passed away unexpectedly after the Fall semester of his freshman year in 2013. In his honor, the department created an award that stems from his philanthropic excellence while he was a student at Syracuse University. This award is presented to a student who displays outstanding service to both the campus and greater Syracuse communities, demonstrates exemplary citizenship and philanthropic qualities, serves as a mentor for students by establishing outreach opportunities for the Department and University, and is an exemplary representative of Sport Management.
Megan has been involved within the Sport Management program and community for the past four years. She served as co-chair of the 2022 Sport Management Club’s Charity Sports Auction that generated more than $52,000 for Vera House. She also served as a club officer for two years. She has interned with the U.S. Soccer Federation and SponsorUnited. Megan completed her Senior Capstone this semester with Leinster Rugby, which included a trip to Ireland.
Sport Management Professional Engagement Award – Melanie Kelly
This award is presented in recognition of a student’s real-world experience, work ethic, dedication, professional demeanor, and career development as an undergraduate student and representative of the Department of Sport Management. This student’s outstanding academic achievements, coupled with strong citizenship and community service, typify the hard work, dedication, and preparation that the student displayed throughout their academic career at Syracuse University.
Melanie completed her senior Capstone this semester as a marketing intern with Wasserman. She has also interned with Madison Square Garden, Talent Resources, and the Syracuse University football team. She presented her co-authored research at the Seneca Falls Dialogues Conference last year and is active with Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity on campus. In addition, Melanie has been a member of the Sport Management Club for four years.
Jason Morales Perseverance in Sports and Life Award – Justin Moskowitz
This award is named in honor of Jason Morales, a sport management student who passed away while completing his Senior Capstone in New York City in 2013. When Jason passed away, Syracuse University awarded his son, Noel, a full scholarship if he chooses to attend Syracuse one day. In Jason’s honor, this award is given to a student who has demonstrated persistence, perseverance, and positive motivation throughout their academic career while striving to be their best when confronted with life’s challenges. Jason overcame many challenges while at Syracuse University and was just six weeks away from graduation when he passed.
The 2023 recipient, Justin Moskowitz, has persevered through many challenges while at Syracuse University. He was even the topic of a column in Sportico written by Sport Management Endowed Professor Rick Burton about Justin’s Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality prowess. Justin recently completed his Senior Capstone with YBVR. College is not always easy for everyone and sometimes it takes a little extra time for some to find the things we are passionate about. His hard work and dedication earned him this honor.
Sport Management VIP Award – Alex Guo
The Sport Management VIP Award is presented to a student with outstanding service to the department and who has engaged in a variety of experiential learning and sport industry experiences, actively volunteers to serve the department and University on a regular basis, demonstrates strong professionalism and outstanding character, and serves as a role model for Sport Management majors.
Alex has been an integral part of this department since he stepped foot on campus as a freshman. He has been an active member of the Sport Management Club for four years, serving as co-chair of the 2022 Charity Sports Auction that generated more than $52,000 for Vera House. He also created this department’s Sport Media and Marketing Club and was a member of the Sport Sales Club. He is enrolled in the Honors Program at Syracuse University and has interned at companies such as the Walt Disney Company, Darlow, PostGame, and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission. Alex completed his Senior Capstone this semester with OnLocation in California, where he worked at events such as the Super Bowl and Masters. He is a true VIP. Alex delivered the Undergraduate Student Reflection at the Falk College Convocation on May 13 as the Falk College Marshal.
Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award – Maxwell Schobel
Kate Veley worked at Syracuse University for more than 15 years and was instrumental in the planning of the annual Sports Charity Auction. She now works as the Director of Corporate Philanthropy for Make-A-Wish of Central New York. The Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award is presented to a student who has “given back to the community they’ve called home for the past four years.” This student has continually demonstrated strong volunteerism and philanthropic effort to improve the lives of others within the greater Syracuse community, and in so doing set an example for us all.
Max served as the 2022 co-chair for the Sport Management Club’s Annual Charity Sports Auction that raised over $52,000 for Vera House. This semester he completed his Senior Capstone with the NHL’s Nashville Predators as a community relations intern. He interned for the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball team, and in Fan Services and Community Relations with Syracuse University men’s basketball. These experiences prove his dedication to giving back to the community he’s in and we know he will continue this on his path forward. Max, we are so proud of you and wish you the best as you embark on your career in the sport industry.
Patrick Ryan Sport Technology Award – Noah Wagner
This award is named after Professor Emeritus Patrick Ryan, who taught at Syracuse University for 15 years before retiring in May 2021. He taught and created all the sport technology courses for the department. Prior to coming to Syracuse University, Ryan worked in the technology industry for more than 30 years. The award recognizes a student’s entrepreneurial spirit and academic excellence while utilizing technology to enhance personal skills.
Noah completed his senior Capstone with UFC as an event development intern and gained industry experience with Baseball/Softball UK in London and the Syracuse Crunch, The Basketball League, Memphis Redbirds, Syracuse University Athletics, and the Syracuse Stallions. Additionally, Noah took advantage of opportunities to shadow the event entertainment department with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and serve as a game day intern for the Memphis Red Birds.
Graduate Student Award – Molly Gross
Molly followed a non-traditional path for students typically interested in our sport venue and event management graduate program. As an undergraduate student, Molly majored in public health, but found a passion for event management while working for University Union, with a particular interest in live music and entertainment. Since joining the program last July, Molly has embraced our philosophy of experiential learning having worked with Live Nation, the JMA Wireless Dome, and ASM Global while also giving back as a development and marketing assistant for the charitable organization Sarah’s Guest House.
Overall, Molly’s outstanding academic achievements, coupled with her strong leadership and respect that she earned from faculty members and her peers, make her a role model for future graduate students. We are pleased to recognize her accomplishments with this honor and wish her the best of luck as she pursues her goal of working in the live music and entertainment industry. We are proud to say that Molly has been hired as an events coordinator in Atlantic City with Oak View Group.
Sport Analytics Academic Excellence Awards – Alexander Borelli and Benjamin Wachtel
This award is in recognition of a student’s outstanding academic achievement and overall scholarship in Sport Analytics.
Alexander is a Berlin Scholar and Falk College Scholar. He has been an active member of Sport Analytics clubs and founder of the Fantasy Sports Club. He attended the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference and finished second in the National Sports Analytics Championships, leading our program to the Game Analytics national championship. He has served as a recruiting intern for the Syracuse University football program and an analytics intern with Major League Baseball. Alex will be returning to MLB this summer and continuing his studies at Fordham University’s Data Science master’s program.
Benjamin is a Berlin Scholar and Falk College Scholar. He has been an active member of the Baseball Statistics and Basketball Analytics Clubs, attended the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference, and participated in the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competitions. He has gained data analysis experience with SponsorUnited, CoachMePlus, and Edmunds GovTech. This spring, he attended the MIT/Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and competed in the inaugural National Sports Analytics Championships, where he was part of the team that led the Sport Analytics program to the Game Analytics national championship. After graduation, Ben will continue his studies at Syracuse University in the Applied Data Science master’s program in the School of Information Studies.
Sport Analytics Director’s Awards for Academic Promise – Eli Miller and Matthew Penn
This award is in recognition of a student who plans to attend post-graduate education, demonstrates exemplary service to the community, and serves as an ambassador and mentor to students in Sport Analytics.
Eli is a Falk Scholar and completed his undergraduate degree in Sport Analytics in December 2022. He has been active gaining experience in the industry, having completed internships with Tracking Football, Hookit (an AI-powered sponsorship company), SBRnet, and the Chicago Blackhawks. This spring, he started his studies towards a master’s degree in economics and competed in the inaugural National Sports Analytics Championships, where he placed third overall as he led the Sport Analytics program to second place in the Business Analytics track. Eli will continue his experiential learning this summer as a data science intern before returning to campus in the fall to work towards completion of his master’s degree.
Matthew is a Berlin Scholar and Falk College Scholar. He is an executive board member for the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and served as analytics committee chair for the Sport Management Club’s Annual Sports Charity Auction. In addition, he served as a night sales intern with Syracuse University Athletics, a data analytics intern for the Newark Pilots, and as team analytics/video coordinator for the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer Baseball League. Matthew attended the MIT/Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, led a team of students in the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, and participated in the MinneAnalytics data science challenge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Matthew will continue his studies at Syracuse University in the Applied Data Science master’s program in the School of Information Studies.
Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award – John Asel and Austin Murphy
This award is in recognition of a student’s demonstrated commitment and success in academic research, presentation, and publication in Sport Analytics.
Austin is a Berlin Scholar and Renée Crown University Honors student who has spent significant time focused on research. He is a member of analytics clubs and spent last summer as a baseball analytics and research intern with the Pioneer Baseball League. Earlier this semester, Austin attended the MIT/Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, led a team of students in the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, and participated in the MinneAnalytics data science challenge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was also selected to present his senior thesis, focused on NCAA Tournament Selection Bias, at the Academy of Economics and Finance Conference and was selected as the best undergraduate paper for the entire competition.
John is a Berlin Scholar and has spent significant time developing his research and analytics knowledge throughout his time at Syracuse University. He has worked closely with Sport Analytics faculty member Jeremy Losak on a variety of research projects and continues that work. In summer 2022, John presented his research at the 50th SABR Conference in Baltimore, earning the Doug Pappas Award for best oral presentation. John has interned with Baseball Cloud, Driveline Baseball, and the Tampa Bay Rays. This spring John is joining the Baltimore Orioles, where he has accepted a full-time role as a junior data scientist.
Sport Analytics VIP Award – Kylie Dedrick
This award is in recognition of a student’s outstanding service, volunteerism, strong academic standing, and leadership, and for serving as a role model to students in Sport Analytics.
Kylie is a Berlin Scholar, Falk Scholar, and an active member of various student organizations. She has been a leader in the Sport Analytics Women Club throughout her time on campus, having served as president during the past year. She has participated in multiple case competitions, including being part of an all-female team that was named a room winner in the inaugural Football Analytics Blitz. This spring, she attended the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference and finished fourth overall in the inaugural National Sports Analytics Championships, leading our program to second place in the Business Analytics track. Kylie interned for Hookit, working with sponsorship data and insights, and spent the summer of 2022 as a data analytics intern with the NBA. Following graduation, Kylie will return to the NBA as a team data solutions strategist.
Congratulations Class of 2023
Along with Dean Murphy, the entire Falk College community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, community partners and friends, congratulates to the Class of 2023! Falk College’s seven academic departments and schools represented 529 degree candidates, including:
- 321 undergraduates;
- 155 masters candidates;
- 50 students earning certificates of advanced study, and;
- 3 Ph.D. students.
Through the month of May, departments across Falk College honored student achievements and celebrated the graduating Class of 2023, which are detailed on individual department websites.
Falk College Convocation was held Saturday, May 13 at Lally Athletic Complex. Falk College Convocation, other college convocations, and the May 14 Syracuse University Commencement ceremony, were recorded and are available to view on the Syracuse University commencement website and is also included below.
Falk College Convocation | Saturday, May 13 | 5:30 p.m. ET
Syracuse University Commencement | Sunday, May 14 | 9:30 a.m. ET
Syracuse University’s Highest Honor
Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy Receives Chancellor’s Medal
Before presenting Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy with the Chancellor’s Medal, Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said “I can’t imagine what this place would be like today without her work, but I’m certain it would be a less accomplished, less just, and less human place.”
Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, received Syracuse University’s highest honor–the Chancellor’s Medal–at the One University Awards Ceremony April 21 at Hendricks Chapel.
The Chancellor’s Medal is awarded to individuals in honor of their trailblazing and extraordinary contributions to the University, to an academic body of knowledge, or to society. Dean Murphy, who was appointed Dean of the College of Human Services and Health Professions (now Falk) in May 2005, checks all three boxes.
“This medal is given for the very things Diane has always done here: extraordinary contributions to the University, to the community, to academic knowledge,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said before presenting the Chancellor’s Medal to Dean Murphy. “She’s done those things, but she’s also done one thing that’s even rarer and worth celebrating and I can say this from experience, she has consistently and faithfully had the courage to speak up.
“She’s had the courage to speak up, including to chancellors, when things are not right, when they could be better, and even more rare is that after speaking up she has the integrity to roll up her sleeves and actually work to make them better,” Chancellor Syverud added.
Dean Murphy was one of several 2022-23 award recipients who were honored at the April 21 ceremony. Watch the video of the Chancellor’s Medal presentation here:
Dean Murphy received four degrees at the University and joined the faculty in the School of Social Work in 1978. Prior to her appointment at Falk, Dean Murphy served 17 years as director of the Women’s Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dean Murphy’s many contributions to the University include co-authoring the University’s sexual harassment policy; initiating studies of gender pay equity; developing adoption and domestic partner benefits; and creating a family-friendly environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Chancellor Syverud started his remarks by reading a news release from January 1973 about Dean Murphy’s appointment as a personnel intern in the Office of Student Affairs who would “specialize in the problem of married students.” She served as a liaison between married students and the administration and from that work arose the first childcare center on campus.
“There have been a lot of initiatives in the last 50 years at Syracuse University to help people and populations in our community,” Chancellor Syverud said. “There have been precious few where Diane Lyden Murphy has not been present and accounted for in support of doing the hard work and listening and doing the problem-solving and speaking up to make things better.
“We talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and support for survivors, Diane was there often before most of the world had developed the vocabulary to describe the problem and the opportunity,” Chancellor Syverud added. “Going back to that first press release, Diane never regarded married students as a problem, she never regarded these things as problems, she regarded them as opportunities. And boy, she’s made an impact on this University! I can’t imagine what this place would be like today without her work, but I’m certain it would be a less accomplished and a colder and less just and less human place.”
The Chancellor’s Medal is the latest in an extensive list of awards Dean Murphy has received while at the University, including the Excellence in Graduate Education Award from the Graduate School, the Francis McMillan Parks Women of Influence Award, and a Chancellor’s Citation. In 2005, the Women’s Studies Program established the Diane Lyden Murphy Women’s Studies Activism Award in her honor.
Look Back, Act Forward
Falk College Student Alison Gilmore Named a 2023-24 Remembrance Scholar
Alison Gilmore, a Sport Analytics major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, was selected as one of 35 Syracuse University students who will be 2023-24 Remembrance Scholars.
The scholarships, now in their 34th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents, and corporations.
Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. The selection committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholarship, leadership, and service to the community.
Visit SU News for a complete list of 2023-24 Remembrance Scholars and more information about how they were selected.
Game Time
Student by Day, Semi-Pro Esports Player by Night
Call of Duty player Braeden Cheverie-Leonard ’26 (front row center) started playing semi-professionally in high school. He is co-captain of Syracuse University’s esports team.
Would you believe that a pacifier is why one of the country’s best semi-professional esports players got into playing video games? It’s true.
Braeden Cheverie-Leonard ’26 didn’t want to stop using his pacifier as a young boy. So, his parents made him a deal: Lose the pacifier and he was allowed to play a video game with his father. The deal worked and Cheverie-Leonard played his first video game.
Over the years he engaged in all sorts of games, but it was the popular Call of Duty—a first-person shooter game—that really caught his interest. Like any athlete who specializes in a sport, Cheverie-Leonard, a sport management major in Syracuse University’s Falk College, played and practiced for hours. Eventually, he got the opportunity to play competitively.
While still a high school student, Cheverie-Leonard, whose player name is BCL, joined the Minnesota Rokkr Academy, a rookie team in the Call of Duty league based in Minnesota. As a semi-professional, he earned a salary and received performance-based incentives. He was sponsored by Mountain Dew Game Fuel, and recently he’s been in touch with Rumble Gaming, Under Armour, which is planning to launch an esports clothing brand, and Beats, which is looking to get into the gaming headset industry.
Now, Cheverie-Leonard is a member of the Syracuse esports team. Primarily an assault rifle player, he can also flex for the other positions on the four-person team. “I’m the only player at Syracuse—and I think in the country—with Call of Duty professional experience,” he says.
Cheverie-Leonard, whose player name is BCL, studies sport management in Falk College. He hopes to one day become a general manager of a sports team.
Game Time
As a successful semi-pro, Cheverie-Leonard was recruited to play varsity esports by several schools, but Syracuse—which competes only on a club level—proved to be the best overall fit. “I liked having the ability to help shape the esports program at Syracuse,” he says. “A lot of schools have great esports business professionals that helped shape their programs, but not many have esports players that shaped them.
“The esports world is so new, it’s all about taking chances,” he continues. “Rokkr took a chance on me when I was balancing school, activities and playing at a high level. In a way, I took a chance on Syracuse, trying to envision the best possible outcome for a program with so much potential.”
Cheverie-Leonard was named co-captain of Syracuse’s team where he oversees the roster. He also has two students working on the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, which feature game schedules and highlights. The team—which plays in the College Call of Duty league—currently consists of four starters and two bench players and is searching for a coaching staff. They’ve played several scrimmages and recently began participating in organized league play.
heverie-Leonard stays actively Orange outside of classes in Otto’s Army, as a Falk College student ambassador and as a campus tour guide.
“I absolutely love Syracuse,” he says. “I bleed orange. I’ve been involved in everything I can hear.”
It hasn’t been all fun and games, though. As one of the few openly gay competitive Call of Duty players, Cheverie-Leonard says competitive gaming can be sexist and homophobic at times.
“That is the current dark side of esports,” Cheverie-Leonard says. “It’s primarily straight men in their twenties. I think we could do a lot to diversify that.” To that end, he says one of his goals with Syracuse’s esports program is to make it more inclusive. He also implemented a zero-tolerance policy against trash talking. Any slurs or profanity and a player is off the team.
In high school Cheverie-Leonard played for the Minnesota Rokkr Academy and was sponsored by Mountain Dew Game Fuel.
Level Up Goals
Besides his aspirations for the esports team, Cheverie-Leonard is on the path to a new goal—with his sport management studies and training, he hopes to one day become a general manager of a sports team. “I’ve always liked leadership, whether that’s coaching or as a general manager or an owner. I’m a people person, I want to do something that can make the people around me more successful,” he explains. His classes have opened his eyes to the many opportunities in sports he hadn’t considered—sponsorship, ticket sales and event management. And he loves the access to guest speakers and alumni who’ve shared their experiences with him and his classmates.
Cheverie-Leonard is also recognized for his gaming accomplishments, literally and figuratively. He’s been approached for photos and autographs by fellow students, and he’s been a guest speaker in esports classes on campus.
A return to professional competitive esports isn’t written in the stars, though. Saying he doesn’t “want to get arthritis when he’s 30,” Cheverie-Leonard is looking for other ways to stay involved, including coaching, which he’s done in the past. He urges players to exercise like any athlete would and to be aware of injuries. Hand and wrist injuries, eye strain, and neck and back problems are common from hours of sitting at a computer.
Outside of class and the esports gaming room in the Barnes Center at The Arch, Cheverie-Leonard keeps busy with activities that allow him to interact with current and prospective students and their families. He’s in Otto’s Army, a Falk College student ambassador, and a University 100 member training to be a campus tour guide. He’s also done commentary on sports radio and sports podcasts.
“I truly appreciate the respect that esports gets at Syracuse,” Cheverie-Leonard says. “While esports has really added to my experience, my overall Syracuse experience has been incredible. I absolutely love it here. I can’t wait for the next three years.”
Game on.
~ An SU Story by Lisa Maresca originally published on April 4, 2023.
Class of 2023 Falk Scholars
‘I Am Forever Grateful to Those Who Have Made These Last Four Years So Special’
Fourteen members of the Class of 2023 have been named Falk College Scholars–the highest academic award conferred by Falk College on graduating seniors. 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.
We asked the Class of 2023 Falk Scholars to describe their most meaningful experiences at Syracuse University. Here’s what they wrote:
Alexander Borelli, Sport Analytics
Throughout my four years at Syracuse University, my most influential and memorable experiences have come from within Falk College. Starting the Fantasy Sports Club in 2021 and serving as its vice president was an incredibly fulfilling experience that allowed me to bring together many like-minded individuals. It has been amazing to see an idea I started with one of my peers develop into a hub for students to attend weekly and discuss their fantasy football leagues.
Being a recruiting intern for the Syracuse University football team during the 2021-22 season was also a memorable experience that taught me a lot about the player operations side of a football organization. I was able to tie my love for sports and my background in player evaluation to a position that granted me the opportunity to make an impact on the team. Syracuse University, and the various experiences in my time here, has helped me develop into a better person and leader.
In the News: Borelli competed for the Syracuse University team that finished first in the game analytics division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.
Kylie Dedrick, Sport Analytics
Syracuse has provided me with memories, experiences, and friends that will stick with me for many years to come. One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at Syracuse would be joining the Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club. I was involved with other clubs but SAW truly gave me a tight-knit community of women to go through this program with as there are not too many of us.
The club gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and take on more responsibility. Coming into college, I never thought I would be the president of a club, but here I am in my senior year serving as president. I’ve been able to participate in multiple case competitions, attend the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, and connect with some amazing people in the sport industry. Coming to Syracuse University is truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In the News: Dedrick competed for the Syracuse University team that finished second in the business analytics division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.
Kiersten Edwards, Public Health, Neuroscience
My time at Syracuse University has been full of ups and downs. While my classes and clubs have always provided security in their routine, it’s really the people and the adventures you embark on with those people that make the difference.
Nothing has been more meaningful to me than the nights I spent with friends staying awake far too late, or the in-depth conversations with faculty beyond school–the ones that dove into my dreams, my sorrows, and our collective hope for what the world could be someday. I am so grateful for the friends I made here, for the faculty mentorship I have received, and for the future that Syracuse has helped provide for me!
In the News: Edwards is also a 2023 Syracuse University Scholar and through public health, she found the path to improving the lives of others.
Taylor Fein, Nutrition Science and Dietetics
I have had many meaningful experiences at Syracuse but volunteering for the Shaw Center program “Books and Cooks” each semester is one that stands out the most. During this program, we visit a local elementary school every Friday to teach students a lesson about nutrition and food from different countries. I have built connections with the students and witnessed how much joy it brings to their day. I am grateful to have been part of a program that makes a difference in students’ lives.
Another experience that I am thankful for is conducting my own research. In my “Sleep and Hydration” study I was able to conduct hands-on research with human participants. I learned how important it is to improve and learn from each encounter along the way. I am now looking forward to pursuing a Ph.D. in physiology and continuing this path of academic discovery through research.
In the News: Fein received the 2021 Ruth Tolley Award from the Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics.
Shane Halpin, Sport Analytics
The Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University has provided me with countless rewarding opportunities to cultivate and demonstrate my analytical skills as they relate to the world of sports. My most meaningful experiences have been representing Syracuse through SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competitions.
As part of these events, I have collaborated with peers formulating responses to complex prompts relevant to current issues in baseball. These experiences have required me to think outside the box and find as precise and unique answers as possible. Being selected as captain of my teams in the last two competitions has been a gratifying experience for me, allowing me to reflect on my growth as a student and as a leader. Additionally, I have been inspired to pursue further research related to baseball with my professors, igniting my passion to continue working in the sport industry upon graduation.
In the News: Halpin competed for the Syracuse University team that finished second in the business analytics division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.
Aric Lechner, Public Health, Neuroscience
In my time at Syracuse University, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing, bright-minded people. Working closely under the guidance and mentorship of Professor Brittany Kmush and other faculty members in the Department of Public Health has been a defining experience and certainly helped shape my career goals. The pilot study was made possible through SOURCE (Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement), where I was able to receive funding for research to further analyze new methods for the detection of opioids in wastewater.
In addition to research and experiences in the Department of Public Health, Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) has been another place of support during my time here. Being able to serve as a personnel supervisor has had a meaningful impact on my growth as a leader, teacher, and person, and I am forever grateful to all of those who have made these last four years so special.
In the News: In addition to SUA, Lechner was a member of the “Goon Squad,” Syracuse University’s official welcoming committee for new students.
Eli Miller, Sport Analytics
Being part of the Falk College provided me with a unique learning experience that I could not have received anywhere else. The coursework was not only challenging but also very practical, giving me real-life experience that will undoubtedly come in handy in my future career.
Furthermore, the university’s robust internship program allowed me to apply my knowledge in real-world settings, giving me hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with professionals in the sports industry. The faculty and staff were also incredibly supportive, providing me with guidance and resources to succeed both academically and personally. I feel confident that my experiences at Syracuse University have given me a strong foundation for success in the sports industry, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
In the News: Miller competed for the Syracuse University team that finished second in the business analytics division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.
Mara Miranda, Public Health
Since beginning my journey at Syracuse University, I have had opportunities that have helped me grow professionally and personally. As I reflect on the past four years, the experience that I’ve had participating in undergraduate research through the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) has been truly rewarding.
Working with Professor Justin Ehrlich, Professor Brittany Kmush, and Professor Shane Sanders on research involving head injuries, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), helmet policies, and rule changes in the NFL has helped me bridge my love for sports with my passion for public health and medicine. It has helped me to look at athletics from a different lens, and I have appreciated this experience. Being a member of the Falk community has granted me opportunities that I will hold for a lifetime.
In the News: Miranda assisted with the research for the study on head injuries for NFL players that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Matthew Penn, Sport Analytics
Some of my most influential experiences at Syracuse have been in clubs. One of those clubs is the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club, for which I have served as the vice president. Through the organization, I have been able to work on research and travel to Arizona to compete against other schools across the country in SABR Case Competitions.
Another club that has been influential in my time at Falk is the Sport Management Club and its Charity Sports Auction. As co-chair of the Analytics Committee for the auction, I have been able to help raise money and give back to the Central New York community. These experiences have helped me grow both as a person and in my career.
In the News: Penn and the Sport Management Club raised more than $50,000 for Vera House at the 2022 Charity Sports Auction.
Madison Roberts, Human Development and Family Science
Syracuse University offered many extraordinary opportunities, but my time presenting at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) stands out as one of the most impactful. In the fall of my sophomore year, I began an independent study with Professor Matthew Mulvaney and another student. We examined the developmental and personality variables that influenced students’ willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints on campus. This project was accepted for the SPSP National Conference in Atlanta. In February, we flew to Georgia and presented our poster at a three-day conference.
This opportunity reinforced my passion for research. I have been able to conduct two projects across the human development and family science field. This contributed to my decision to pursue graduate school, including taking a position in a research lab. I look forward to taking these skills and applying them to my future academic career.
In the News: Roberts received the 2021 Florence B. Potter Memorial Award from the Department of Human Development and Family Science.
Brielle Seidel, Public Health
Syracuse University has been a place of true academic and personal growth for me. I have been able to explore my passion for the medical field and service by taking public health and addiction classes and engaging in meaningful campus organizations, including Syracuse University Ambulance and Camp Kesem. Additionally, I traveled abroad to Geneva, Switzerland, expanding my understanding of the world and addiction studies.
Syracuse University and its incredible staff have encouraged me to converge my personal and academic interests through their support of my thesis about psychedelic medicine. Their support for my passions has given me a deeper appreciation for my education at this University.
Finally, being a 2022-2023 Remembrance Scholar has been one of the most meaningful experiences at Syracuse. I faced challenges and grief in honoring Luann Rogers and those who perished on Pan Am Flight 103. Through that experience, I was able to find the importance of promoting peace, connection, and love–the qualities that build a better future.
In the News: Seidel was one of Syracuse University’s 2022-23 Remembrance Scholars, whose mission was to honor and remember the Syracuse students and others lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
Joanna Vines, Public Health, Policy Studies
During my freshman year, I determined that a double major in public health and policy studies would align with my interests and goals. This interdisciplinary path of study created a trajectory that has provided me with valuable opportunities and meaningful experiences and enabled me to make positive impacts over my years at Syracuse.
I have engaged in experiential learning roles as a research consultant for the Onondaga County health department, an intern for Planned Parenthood, and a laboratory assistant at the COVID-19 Program Management Office. Through these positions, I enhanced my skills and knowledge in public health practice and connected with influential public health community leaders. These experiences inspired the research content for my honors thesis, which addresses public health and educational disparities and inequities in New York State.
In the News: This spring, Vines is working as an intern in the Education and Outreach department at Planned Parenthood of Syracuse.
Benjamin Wachtel, Sport Analytics
When I first learned of the Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University, I knew it was the best choice for me. Now as I am completing my studies, I can reflect on how much I have grown both inside and outside the classroom.
Out of all my experiences–whether it be competitions, research, or other extracurricular projects–one of the most meaningful has been being a Berlin Scholar for Sport Management Instructor Adrian Simion. In this role, I am participating in department research while also learning about this process. I have assisted with research pertaining to the NCAA transfer portal, providing input on project ideas and cleaning data.
Currently, I am aiding the initial stages of a Major League Baseball deep-learning project. My growth as a student and researcher, and my future professional in the industry, could not have been achieved without the opportunities the Sport Analytics program provided to me.
In the News: Wachtel competed for the Syracuse University team that finished first in the game analytics division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.
Junhui “Carol” Yang, Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Psychology
As an undergraduate researcher and research assistant at Syracuse University, I have been presented with numerous impressive opportunities and resources. During my sophomore year, I joined Professor Latha Ramalingam’s lab and worked on a study investigating the cross-generational effects of omega-3 fatty acids on improving obesity and chronic inflammation. Through this research project, I learned various skills in experimental operation, including testing gene expressions. This experience not only expanded my knowledge but allowed me to receive multiple scholarships, awards, and poster presentation opportunities, which have been incredibly encouraging.
Furthermore, serving as a peer mentor in International Student Success and the Renée Crown Honors Program, and being a teaching assistant for Professor Jane Burrell, has provided me with meaningful opportunities to assist others. Additionally, I am honored to have been pre-selected by the Phi Beta Kappa Society New York Chapter at Syracuse University, the most prestigious academic honor society in America. The confidence and passion I have developed at Syracuse have propelled me toward pursuing my dream of becoming a physician-scientist.
In the News: Yang’s research with Ramalingam involved examining obesity in male mice to explore the idea that a healthier father will produce a healthier child.
Passion for Research
ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference Attracts Top Student Researchers
(From left): SOURCE assistant director Odette Marie Rodríguez poses with student researchers Jordyn Lee ’25, Katarina Sako ’24, Nathan Ashby ’23, Husna Tunje ’24 and Grace Brock ’23 during the annual ACC Meeting of the Minds research conference.
Each spring, there’s a prestigious, student-centric event featuring colleges and universities affiliated with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) that has nothing to do with March Madness and everything to do with research and preparedness.
During the annual ACC Meeting of the Minds research conference, held March 24-26 on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, undergraduate students from each ACC institution convened to present recent findings to their peers.
The nomination and selection process—conducted by the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE)—is extremely competitive, and only five students represented Syracuse:
- Jordyn Lee, a sophomore sport management major in Falk College;
- Nathan Ashby, a senior biochemistry and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
- Grace Brock, a senior political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences;
- Katarina Sako, a junior neuroscience and biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences; and
- Husna Tunje, a junior environmental engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Students either delivered a 10-minute oral presentation followed by a Q&A (Brock and Sako) or they devised a poster displaying their research (Ashby, Lee and Tunje).
Get to know this year’s Falk College Orange representative at the conference, her passion for her research topic and how this experience inspired her to go further with her research:
Jordyn Lee’s research focused on the lack of diversity and equity in the front offices of professional sports teams and leagues.
Jordyn Lee ’25: Tracking a Lack of Diversity and Equity in Professional Sports Front Offices
When Lee heads home after completing her sophomore year, she will intern for two different sports organizations: with event operations for Fastpitch Nation Softball Park, a sports complex in Windsor, Connecticut, and with USA Boccia, a national organization dedicated to promoting a highly competitive seated Paralympic sport where athletes with disabilities and able-bodied athletes participate in a throwing sport.
Lee, a lifelong tennis player, hopes to work for a professional sports organization or league once she finishes her sport management degree. As someone who grew up playing and following sports, Lee knows the front offices of these leagues and teams predominantly feature male executives.
When she arrived on campus, Lee noticed that her sport management classes contained mostly males, but she was determined to follow in the footsteps of recent female sport management graduates who have landed key jobs with professional sports teams and leagues. Those experiences of being in the minority in the classroom, combined with her personal experiences in sports, inspired Lee’s poster presentation delving into the lack of diversity and equity among the front offices of teams in both the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
“Just speaking with the other participants at the Meeting of the Minds gave me new insights into my research and [the knowing] that the possibilities are endless,” Lee says. “This experience inspired me to keep doing what I’m doing, to keep going with this research, and to expand it to include other sports leagues, like the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), to compare their front offices to the NBA teams. I left this conference more determined to raise awareness of this issue and make changes in these professional sports organizations.”
The Clock is Ticking
America’s Pastime in Less Time: What to Expect as MLB Season Begins
The Major League Baseball (MLB) season opens this week with major changes in store. A pitch clock, new pickoff limits, bigger bases and rules on shifting infielders are all aimed at helping America’s pastime take up less time. Three Syracuse University faculty members with connections to the game and the numbers behind it offer thoughts on what fans can expect on opening day and beyond.
Brad Horn, professor of public relations in the Newhouse School and former VP of communications for the Baseball Hall of Fame
“The reality is that for the game to navigate a 162-game regular season, change is essential to the sport’s relevancy. Change is overdue, and change is good.
“Ironically, baseball was never meant to be played over a span of more than three hours. Efficiency has been the ultimate reward: the shortest effort between 27 outs typically signals victory.
“But somewhere along the way, the game itself slowed to a crawl while the rest of the world ran out of patience. As sports fans, we crave efficiency: the two-minute drill, the last-second possession, the power play. Yet baseball has continued to rely on the timeless nature of the game. While redeeming, good only for the few who can afford to wait.
“The reality is that the game can no longer stand on history and tradition alone to be relevant. The raw numbers just don’t matter as much as they once did. But the excitement of baseball—a thrilling postseason, a dramatic walk-off, an incredible World Baseball Classic—are the moments that matter more today. Creating more shareable moments is central to the game’s growth and future.”
Jason Maddox, assistant professor of sport management in the Falk College with a teaching specialty in analytics
“I do not believe the new rules will have a very large effect on the way the game is played. There may be some minor growing pains for pitchers with the pitch clock early on in the season, but many players have already played with a pitch clock instituted in the minor leagues since the 2015 season. As with any rule change or emphasis, I envision the umpires will enforce the changes more strictly at the beginning of the season, but I would expect there to be a lot of leeway on the new rules once September and October roll around.
“I think that the biggest change in the game for this season will be a lot more action occurring on the basepaths with stolen base attempts. Limited pitcher disengagements and larger bases will make it much more difficult for pitchers to hold runners, and therefore increase stolen base successes along with attempts.”
Jeremy Losak, assistant professor of sport management in the Falk College and former baseball analytics consultant
“MLB rule changes will do exactly what the league wants them to do: make the game of baseball more interesting and enjoyable to watch. The new rules also allow for more diversity in play styles.
“Starting with the new pickoff rules and larger bases (and pitch timer, to some extent). Analytical thinking had mostly killed the stolen base because the potential cost of getting an out outweighed the benefit of gaining the extra base. These new rules reduce the likelihood of recording an out when attempting to steal (we do not know by how much just yet, but some expect the effect to be huge), which should lead to significantly more attempts to steal bases.
“This, in turn, impacts the marginal impact of a single and reduces the marginal impact of a walk. Generally, it takes three singles to score a run (if only singles are hit). With increased stealing, it may only take two singles to score a run. This makes singles hitting more valuable than it was previously, and more importantly, it decreases the value of the home run relative to the single. Combine this with the new shift restrictions, increasing the likelihood that a ball hit on the ground results in a hit, hitting for contact in general, as opposed to hitting for power, should become much more prevalent. Now combine this with less dead time, and there should be much more in-game action this season.
“I also anticipate lineup management, and specifically the role analytics plays in lineup management, to be even more crucial this year. With multiple home run jacking individuals in the lineup, the key objective in past years would typically be to get people on base so home runs do more damage, leading to fairly simple lineup strategies (and incentivizing walks, i.e., not swinging). With more diverse outcomes, and more hits in play as opposed to home runs, player sequencing will be especially critical to get right. I expect there will be a general reversion toward more traditional lineup setups (speed hitter no. 1, best contact hitter no. 2, best overall hitter no. 3, best power hitter no. 4) as opposed to what we have seen more recently (best OBP player no. 1, best overall hitter no. 2).
“Of course, there will be bugs to work out, especially as teams find loopholes in the pitch clock and shift rules. Teams will spend the early part of the season trying to identify the optimal aggressiveness on the basepaths, and pitchers will continue getting accustomed to working under time duress. The pickoff rule is wonky, which is part of the reason stolen base rates should go up significantly. At this point, it is not clear if everyone will run more, if just the top players will run more or if everyone will see some sort of proportional increase in their baserunning aggressiveness. Again, part of that will work itself out during the early part of the season. Teams will surely review early season data very closely. Although I do expect catchers who can throw out runners will be more greatly compensated and sought after.
“I expect more runs to be scored despite a slight decrease in home runs (unless MLB messes with the aerodynamics of the baseball again). And the pitch clock has already shown evidence (in the minors and spring training) of being successful in its endeavor: to cut down on dead time in baseball games. Games will go much quicker but will also see more action. I am concerned about how the pace-of-play rules will impact pitcher durability, health and player safety. These rules may continue to push us away from the traditional starting pitcher. In fact, I wonder if this will be the next area of the game that is targeted for rule changes: the number of pitchers allowed to be brought in during a game.”
~ An SU News story by Keith Kobland originally published on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
Making Their Case
Syracuse University Sport Analytics Students Excel at Basketball Negotiation Competition
At the Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition, Syracuse University’s Preston Klaus (left) and Jackson Hett were the youngest team in the event and finished just two votes shy of the winning team.
Syracuse University students Jackson Hett and Preston Klaus aren’t studying law, but they proved they can negotiate with some of the best law students from around the country.
Sport Analytics major Hett ’23 and Sport Analytics alumnus Klaus ’22, MS ’23 recently finished second at the Tulane University Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition (TPBNC) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competition annually attracts competitors from top law schools across the United States and high-profile judges from the NBA.
“I was thrilled to place second overall in the competition,” says Hett, who’s from North Berwick, Maine. “In a field of over 40 teams, my goal was to make the final round. As the event progressed, I did believe that we could win. We gave it our best effort, but came up just short.”
Department of Sport Management alumnus Chris Robinson ’15 created the event while he was a student at Tulane Law School. The competition randomly assigns students to act as an agent or a team to represent an active NBA player who is eligible for free agency in the summer.
Both sides negotiated, seeking to come to a legal contract under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The competitors were judged on Negotiation Ability/Strategy, Basketball/NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Knowledge, and Strength of the Deal.
“We were told this year’s negotiations were the most competitive and that we were just a few votes shy of winning it all,” says Klaus, a Palm City, Florida, native who graduated from Sport Analytics last year and is now studying finance at Syracuse University. “Even in defeat, we knew we made a positive impression and exceeded expectations.”
In the first two rounds, Hett and Klaus faced off against law students from Loyola University Chicago/Chicago-Kent College of Law and University of California, Berkeley. After negotiating against the University of Massachusetts, Syracuse’s Hett and Klaus were one of four teams to reach the final round, where they negotiated against third-year law students from Tulane in front of 32 NBA executives.
In the final negotiation, Hett and Klaus placed second by two votes. It was the highest finish by a non-law school team in the competition’s history, and they were the youngest team in the event this year.
“The department is very proud of Jackson and Preston for not only taking the chance to enter this top-notch competition, knowing it was stacked with law students and graduate students, but to then finish second is unbelievable,” said Sport Analytics Director Rodney Paul. “It truly shows how talented they are and how Falk College Sport Analytics is making a name for itself around the country in these types of competitions and conferences. Jackson and Preston are destined for success in the sport industry.”
Jackson Hett (left) and Preston Klaus display their runner-up plaque after earning the highest finish by a non-law school team in the history of the Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition.
To learn more about their performance at the TPBNC, we asked Hett and Klaus about their passion for sport analytics, their negotiating strategy, and what it was like to reach the finals. Here’s that conversation:
Q: Why did you want to study sport analytics and what brought you to Syracuse University?
Klaus: I wanted to study sport analytics because I’ve always had a love for math and wanted to combine it with my passion for sports. Syracuse University was the best–and at the time, only–place to get this analytical focus using sports data, all built into one academic major. As a bonus, I was able to graduate early and use my fourth year to earn a finance master’s degree.
Since I enrolled, I’ve honed my interest toward the NBA salary cap sector and upon graduation in May I’m looking to work for a team in basketball operations and strategy.
Hett: I wanted to study sport analytics because I have loved basketball my entire life and realized I had a passion for statistics during high school. I chose Syracuse University because this is the perfect major for me and brought together my passions and talents. During my childhood, I crafted NBA big boards and watched or played basketball almost every night. I plan to work in an analytics or strategy department for an NBA franchise in the future.
Q: What made you decide to enter the TPBNC that was filled with law students?
Hett: The main reason I decided to enter the TPBNC was because of the mentorship of Chris Robinson. I worked with Chris when he was in charge of Edwards Robinson Sports, a consulting company for a large NBA agency. Although his role ended when he was hired by the Utah Jazz, I kept in touch and he encouraged me to apply to the TPBNC.
Last year, I did not decide to pursue the opportunity because I didn’t think I could compete with law students. This year, I knew we could be competitive because Preston has studied the intricacies of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement and I was confident in my knowledge of basketball.
Klaus: TPBNC was something I have personally been looking to compete in for a couple of years since it is the premier competition for NBA salary cap and strategy. Since basketball operations is an extremely competitive position, this was my best chance to showcase my capabilities in front of people who are working my dream job and get my name on their radar. It was a welcome challenge; to be the best, you have to beat the best.
Q: Can you describe your assignments at the TPBNC and how did you divide your duties for the assignments?
Klaus: Before the competition, we created a presentation designed for (San Antonio) Spurs’ ownership regarding Devin Vassell’s upcoming contract extension. This helped decide who we went up against; the competition committee tried to match up teams of equal skill.
At Tulane, there were three preliminary rounds and one final round. Given my finance background, I mostly handled the salary cap side during negotiations, while Jackson focused on finding player comparisons. However, before the competition, we both prepared statistics on our player, discussed what the other side might propose, and decided on an initial and walkaway price.
Hett: We acted as the Minnesota Timberwolves in a negotiation for Jaden McDaniels; as the agent for Grant Williams in a negotiation with the Boston Celtics; and as the New York Knicks in a negotiation for Josh Hart. Finally, we acted as the agent for Spencer Dinwiddie in a negotiation with the Brooklyn Nets. Preston focused on creating cap sheets for each team while I focused on finding comparable players and talking about the basketball side of things.
Q: Describe the feeling you had as you moved on and what was it like negotiating against third-year law students in front of 32 NBA executives?
Hett: As the event progressed, we felt like we were a competitive team since we competed against two of the top four teams on the first day. At first, it was nerve-wracking negotiating in front of so many NBA executives. We knew we just needed to focus on the task and tune out everything other than the students in front of us. We knew we were prepared, and the previous negotiations helped us build confidence.
Klaus: In the preliminary rounds, we faced law school teams from Chicago, a team in last year’s final four, and last year’s winner, UC Berkeley, which both made this year’s finals. We knew if we could go toe-to-toe with them, we could do well against anyone.
The final negotiation in front of Tulane third-year law students was tough because we only had 90 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to negotiate. I was less intimidated by the judges after the earlier rounds, but accuracy was even more critical because no mistake would slip by a full room of NBA executives.
Q: How did the Sport Analytics program at Syracuse University prepare you for this competition and your future professional careers?
Klaus: Our sport analytics background proved to be a hidden advantage. Going against law students, we needed to find an edge and were able to do that analytically. Our player comparisons gave us a huge upper hand, which we sourced via advanced statistics. I hope to be doing similar projects in my future career, using my unique skillset.
Hett: I have learned through the Sport Analytics program how to build an argument using statistics. Additionally, my experience as president of Syracuse University’s Basketball Analytics Club helped me prepare for the TPBNC. I am confident all the skills I have developed at Syracuse make me a competitive applicant for the jobs that will help fulfill my professional dreams.
This article from The Athletic looks at how the competition became a “retreat” for present and future NBA executives (an account from The Athletic is required).
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