Syracuse Sport Management | Sport Analytics 2022-2023 Newsletter

Building the Future

Highlighted Stories:

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 

New major in Esports Communications and Management 

Dual degree with Whitman 

Sport, Entertainment and Innovation Conference planned 

Sport Analytics program highlights 

Alumni news 

Director's Greeting

It has been said “success breeds success.” Each May, we celebrate the scholarly accomplishments of our graduates, but the amazing success of our Class of 2023 elevated the level of achievement to new standards. We conferred the largest number of degrees in our department’s history with 141 students graduating from Sport Management, Sport Analytics, and our graduate program in Sport Venue and Event Management. 

Overall, 65 percent of our undergraduate students graduated with honors, achieving a 3.4 or above GPA – which was another program milestone! Sport Management had 58 percent of its class graduate with honors, while Sport Analytics had an astounding 78 percent of its students earn academic honors. Additionally, a record number of 49 seniors earned the distinction of the Director’s Academic Achievement Award by attaining a minimum 3.4 GPA for every semester at Syracuse University, which is an outstanding accomplishment. I am extremely proud of the Class of 2023! 

As I begin my final year as the founding director and chair of this fabulous program, by announcing my retirement, I wish to reflect on the previous 18 years, but reassure everyone that just like the Class of 2023, Sport Management will set new standards! Syracuse University will continue to offer a preeminent program and be a “success engine” for the future through innovative education, research and service. 

Our mission is unwavering. To provide resources and deliver real-world experiences that empower students, educators and alumni success. To engage in cutting-edge and collaborative research that advances knowledge and catapults the sport industry forward. To maintain a diversified curriculum that is responsive to the ever-changing needs of this global industry, and our constituents and stakeholders. To be the interdisciplinary model of exceptional service and civic engagement to Falk College, our University and communities. To promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility by using sports as a platform for social responsibility. 

We have positioned ourselves as a global leader in this academic field, which is a credit to the graduates, faculty and staff, along with administrators such as Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy, and benefactors such as David and Rhonda Falk and our nationally renowned advisory council of sports executives. 

This department has prided itself on creating pathways for women in sports and creating cutting-edge programs. Syracuse University designed the first undergraduate sport analytics degree program of its kind in the nation, and the results have been phenomenal. We have also just created a one-of-a-kind dual degree program in Esports Communications and Management, a joint program between Falk College and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. In August 2024, we will enroll our first cohort of students in our fourth undergraduate degree program, an interdisciplinary degree in Sport Business and Management developed in conjunction with the Whitman School of Management. We have, and will continue, to move the needle in academic excellence. No other Research I and Power Five Conference university offers such a unique blend of degree programs, a feat we are exceptionally proud of. I hope you are as well.

I have tried to live some of the teachings of legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden, who said, “True success comes only to an individual by the self-satisfaction of knowing that you gave everything to become the very best that you are capable of.” I know success can be fleeting. Sustained success is not a destination, it is a journey, and that journey of success will continue. 

I wish to thank each one of our graduates for enriching my life and giving me the passion to help this program be the best. To the parents who entrusted your sons and daughters to us, thanks for believing in our family culture. To our donors, benefactors and supporters, you have helped us make an indelible impact and difference in hundreds of students’ lives. To advisory council members past and present, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support, friendship, dedication and loyalty. To my colleagues, best wishes and sincere gratitude. You’re THE BEST! We’re ORANGE TOGETHER! 

Sincerely, 

Michael Veley 

Director and Chair 

Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor of 

Sport Management

Table of Contents

Students

Congratulations to the Class of 2023

SVEM Graduate Program

Welcome Class of 2027

Director’s Honor Roll

Senior Capstone Locations

Senior Capstone Profiles

Charity Sports Auction

Sport Management Club 

ACC Honor Roll

Sales Club/Sport Media and Marketing Club

Women in Sports and Events Club

Sport Professionals of Color Club

Analytics

High School Summer Academy

Program Highlights

Alison Gilmore Feature

Kitman Labs Partnership

Student Organizations

News and Events

Partnership with Fantastec

New Esports Degree

SEI-Con Announcement

Podcast Room

Dual Degree With Whitman

New ESE Minor

DEIA Symposium

SPM 324 Yankees Project

Los Angeles Immersion

Winter and European Olympic Odyssey

Program Donation

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and Staff Profiles 

Advisory Councils

Sport Management Advisory Council 

Emerging Leaders Council 

Alumni

Employment Listings 

Read the most recent news from the Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University. 

Photos with caption in this section included: Student Matt Kahan (center) won the SPM Sales Combine in Spring 2022, put on in conjunction with the New York Mets and the Syracuse Mets. He is shown with New York Mets executives Tyler DeFranco (left) and Abby Higgins. The winner was misidentified in the 2022 SPM Newsletter. 

From our Dean… 

Greetings students, alumni, and friends. As I conclude my tenure as Falk College Dean in 2023, I reflect on the remarkable journey of the Department of Sport Management. Falk College has been a national leader of sport industry education for 20 years. Today, programs in sport management and sport analytics continue to excel at the highest level. Our students annually earn prestigious honors in national conferences and competitions. Our alumni hold leadership roles in agencies, organizations and teams across the industry. As Syracuse University launches its esports communications and management major in Fall 2024, I know it will find similar success. 

As a social worker and feminist scholar, I never anticipated I would help build academic programs in sport management and sport analytics. I am truly grateful to have Chair and Director Michael Veley, and each member of our outstanding sport management faculty, who were essential in building this department. Most of all, it has been my great privilege to see our students bring positive change to the world through sports and beyond. I have every confidence in the continued growth and excellence of Falk College’s programs in sport management, sport analytics, esports and sport venue and event management and all who are part of them. 

Thank you for the honor of serving as your Dean. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. 

Go Orange! 

— Diane Lyden Murphy, M.A. M.S.W., Ph.D., Dean, Falk College 

Students

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 

On May 12, 2023, Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics celebrated its Class of 2023 Convocation ceremony at Manley Field House. The Department of Sport Management congratulates 87 Sport Management undergraduates, 49 Sport Analytics undergraduates, and five Sport Venue and Event Management master’s graduates who received their degrees as part of the Class of 2023. 

Sport Management major Alex Guo served as a Falk College Marshal and delivered a speech at Convocation. Department Marshals were Brianne Quinlan (Sport Management), John Asel (Sport Analytics) and Luke Frontale (Sport Venue and Event Management). 

Eighty-nine Sport Management/Sport Analytics students in the Class of 2023 graduated with honors with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, representing 63 percent of the graduates, a department record. Thirty-nine students graduated Magna Cum Laude (GPA of 3.6 or higher) and 29 students graduated Summa Cum Laude (GPA of 3.8 or higher). One student had a triple major, 12 students had dual majors and three students had triple minors. Seven students earned Certificates of Advanced Study (CAS) in Sport Analytics. 

The Department of Sport Management’s traditional celebration of its graduates on Commencement weekend continued this year with more than 200 parents, family members, friends, faculty and staff gathering in Falk College on May 12 to celebrate the accomplishments of the Sport Management and Sport Analytics undergraduates and Sport Venue and Event Management master’s students. 

Forty-nine students received the Director’s Academic Achievement Award for earning 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, Nicholas Lukowsky, Nathaniel Mahoney, Austin Murphy, Zachary Palfey, Matthew Penn, Seth Quinn, Robert Schoor, Brenden Slomka, Benjamin Wachtel and Zachary Wood. 

Six Sport Analytics seniors were named Falk College Scholars: Alexander Borelli, Kylie Dedrick, Shane Halpin, Eli Miller, Matthew Penn and Benjamin Wachtel. 

Here is a list of the senior awards: 

Sport Management Director’s Award – Blake Taub 

Academic Excellence Award – Benjamin Paglia 

Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Excellence Award – Megan Sheehan 

Sport Management VIP Award – Alex Guo 

Professional Engagement Award – Melanie Kelly 

Jason Morales Perseverance in Sport and Life Award – Justin Moskowitz 

Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Nyah Jones 

Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award – Maxwell Schobel 

Patrick Ryan Sport Technology Award – Noah Wagner 

Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Molly Gross 

Sport Analytics: 

Sport Analytics VIP Award – Kylie Dedrick 

Sport Analytics Academic Excellence Award – Alexander Borelli 

Sport Analytics Academic Excellence Award – Benjamin Wachtel 

Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award – John Asel 

Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award – Austin Murphy 

Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Eli Miller 

Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Matthew Penn 

Also, the M.S. in Sport Venue and Event Management program concluded its 11th year.

Sport Venue and Event Management Master’s program graduates its 11th class 

The Department of Sport Management’s master’s program in Sport Venue and Event Management (SVEM) welcomed its 11th class of graduate students to campus in July 2022. The 2022-23 cohort included six students, with a diverse mix of educational backgrounds and from a variety of geographic locations. Students in this cohort worked toward completing their practicum work in Spring 2023, Summer 2023 and some will continue in Fall 2023. 

In addition to their classwork, graduate students volunteered for a variety of events, including working the entire regional tournament of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in Syracuse. They also took part in professional development seminars conducted by Sport Management internship placement coordinators on networking, cover letters, resumes, strategic interviewing, salary negotiation, career guidance and using LinkedIn. 

In the Spring 2023 semester, students worked with associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline in the advanced sport event management course, and in collaboration with adjunct instructor and JMA Wireless Dome Director Tom Forgione, to complete a rotational program getting first-hand experience in all areas of Dome operations. The students experienced a wide range of events such as Syracuse University basketball games, Monster Jam, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. 

Students in the first 11 cohorts have immersed themselves in the program’s academic and experiential opportunities, and leveraged relationships to launch their careers in the industry. Graduates have secured positions at Allegiant Stadium, Soldier Field, Dartmouth Athletics, Dover Speedway, Brown University, Spectra Venue Management, Legends, Spartan Race Inc., Country Music Hall of Fame, Syracuse University’s JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse University’s Barnes Center, Met Life Stadium, Boston Celtics, Boise State University, Towson University Athletics, Nike China, and Tulsa Sports Commission, among others. 

The 12th SVEM graduate class began in July 2023. The SVEM curriculum is designed to provide graduate students with a set of courses focused on the management and operations of facilities and events in the realm of sports and entertainment. The program comprises 36 credit hours of intensive classroom learning skill development and experiential opportunities in settings like SU’s JMA Wireless Dome. Additionally, the SVEM coursework contains theory-to-practice elements where students apply concepts learned in the classroom to actual industry settings in a hands-on manner. 

For more information about the graduate program, visit Falk College Sport Management Academic Programs page. 

Images with captions included in this section: Nicolee Foster, Luke Frontale, Ben Blake and Molly Gross (from left) took part in the Falk College Class of 2023 Convocation in May. Graduate students Ben Blake, Molly Gross, Geana Torres, Linfeng Li and Luke Frontale (from left) worked at The TBT in July 2022. 

Practicum locations for Sport Venue and Event Management master’s program 

Fall 2022 

Joshua Hagwell, Twenty3 Sport and Entertainment 

Samantha Swart, The Game Sport Complex 

Chris Szlamczynski, Syracuse University Athletics 

Taylor Tsatsis, Syracuse University Athletic Operations 

Spring 2023 

Luke Frontale, Syracuse University Athletic Operations 

Asa Goldstock, University of Southern California Athletics 

Summer 2023 

Benjamin Blake, Perfect Game 

Luke Frontale, Syracuse University Athletic Operations 

Molly Gross, Oak View Group 

Geana Torres, Salt City Sports 

Visit Sport Management’s online resources 

Be sure to check out Falk College Sport Management website for department information, program news, club meeting dates and activities, and other special events.  Also, be sure to follow Sport Management on Twitter @SUSportMgmt, and “like” us on Facebook at SU Falk College Department of Sport Management. 

Welcome Class of 2027 Undergraduates Sport Management and Sport Analytics

Congratulations to the following students for achieving an overall cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher, as of the end of the 2022-2023 academic year:

Senior Capstone Experience

Among the most valuable attributes of the Department of Sport Management is its connection with the sport industry, which impacts students in numerous ways, including the Senior Capstone experience. As a part of their degree requirements, Sport Management students must complete a 12-credit Capstone providing an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the sports industry before graduation.

Since the Capstone is the culmination of one’s academic experience, the planning process begins during a student’s freshman year. The process concludes with the full-semester experience with a specific sport entity or organization as local as Central New York to across the United States and around the world.

A Capstone requires students to work with a sport-related organization for a minimum of 540 hours over the course of one semester, gaining experience in areas such as sales, marketing, finance, analytics, event management, collegiate athletics, communications, law, community relations, and more. 

Listed below are Sport Management students and the organizations where they completed their senior Capstone in 2022-2023. We are grateful to our growing list of Capstone partners, who continue to provide tremendous learning opportunities for our students. This all happens under the leadership of the Sport Management internship placement coordinators. 

Capstone

Documentary work highlights remote experience as research intern

By Alexa Schlitt SPM ’23

For my 2023 senior Capstone, I had the privilege of interning remotely for both Burst, the leading user-generated content engagement platform, and The Carnegie Initiative for inclusion and acceptance in hockey, a non-profit named after the legendary hockey player and social justice pioneer, Herb Carnegie. 

I worked for both organizations as a business development and research intern, primarily focusing on content creation and engaging storytelling while rotating between a variety of departments and acquiring skills in public relations, communications, marketing, program development and production. 

I helped to develop the Herb Carnegie Trailblazer Award Program, honoring the unsung heroes of the hockey world and those who use the sport as a vehicle for change. 

Also, I was honored to work on a documentary titled “Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil,” which tells the story of two men’s parallel lives, and how they were denied from playing in the NHL and Major League Baseball due to the color of their skin. The film also focuses on their induction into their respective halls of fame. I started as the production coordinator and by the end became an associate producer. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was something I never imagined as part of my senior year of college. I traveled to Toronto and Kansas City, writing and directing interviews. I was lucky to also attend the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 

I will cherish my senior Capstone experience for the rest of my life. I am forever grateful for those who helped me get there and supported me along the way as I begin my post-graduate career in the sport industry. 

Capstone takes student to the Super Bowl, Final Four and Masters 

By Alex Guo SPM ’23

I completed my senior Capstone in Spring 2023 with On Location’s event production department as an event production and hospitality intern in Los Angeles, California. My responsibilities were to assist the company’s premium hospitality events in the pre-production, onsite, post-production, and closeout stages. My tasks included contracting with vendors, paying invoices, budget assistance, coding payments, expensing credit card charges, retrieving quotes, building decks and diagrams, researching assets, managing onsite events, and working with clients and vendors. 

I worked on parties for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, as well as events for NCAA March Madness and Final Four across 18 cities. I also worked with two hospitality houses at the 2023 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Throughout this time, I learned new personal skills and processes to improve my career, such as communication methods, leadership styles, and time management. I also gained industry knowledge in areas such as accounting, event planning, hospitality, sales, and design. While I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, my favorite aspect of the Capstone was the people I got to work with in the office and at the events. The most important takeaway from this experience is that “people make the job.” I intend to prioritize office culture and team environment in my future career plans. 

After graduation, I joined ESPN at The Walt Disney Company as a Sports Brand Solutions Coordinator, working on the SEC Network properties in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Capstone takes student to Ireland for Gaelic games experience

By Kevin Donoghue SPM ’23

During the Fall 2022 semester, I had the privilege of completing my senior Capstone with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Dublin, Ireland.

The GAA is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organization focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, Gaelic handball, and rounders.

I worked under the supervision of Strategy, Insights, and Innovation Manager Peter Horgan within the Coaching and Games Development department. As a research support intern, my duties largely pertained to the development of various research studies relating to Gaelic games.
I helped manage the Gaelic Games Youth Participation Study, which drew upon the experiences of young participants in Gaelic games; and the Inactive Gaelic Games Coaches Study, investigating reasons for why coaches choose to step away from their roles. Through these reports, I provided the GAA with potential solutions and implementation recommendations for problems raised through study results.

Apart from research, I gained experience in social media management via the GAA Learning Twitter account. I also gained sports public communications insight by attending and assisting in the operations of Croke Park gamedays.

I will be forever grateful for this tremendous opportunity that allowed me to gain hands-on experience in the European sports landscape. I am excited to take what I have learned with me into the future as I continue to make my mark in the sports industry.

Behind the scenes at Bowl Season

By Faith Porter SPM ’23
During the Spring 2023 semester, I was fortunate to work remotely at Bowl Season as a digital media intern for my senior Capstone experience. Bowl Season represents the postseason college football bowl games, highlighting the uniqueness of each of the 43 games.

Throughout my internship, I worked closely with Bowl Season Director of Operations Thomas Carracilo on creating and executing new social campaigns that integrated existing partnerships. I was responsible for posting, engaging and interacting on all of Bowl Season’s social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tik Tok). I spent time creating templates on Canva, conducting research for each campaign, looking at current trends on social media and gathering information for each campaign. Additionally, I was tasked with collecting metrics from previous social campaigns, and analyze the data for a sales deck.

I worked on-site at the Bowl Season Annual Meeting in Nashville, where more than 400 executives, representatives, sponsors and vendors gathered to discuss the upcoming college football postseason. At the annual meeting, I posted live content, reposted user-generated content and captured images for the duration of the meeting.

At Bowl Season, I learned the value of communication and adaptability. I learned the importance of organizing my work before posting and contacting upper-level executives for social campaigns. I sat in on meetings with sponsors as well as planning sessions for our annual meeting, where I learned what goes on behind the scenes to execute an event of that magnitude.

I am grateful to have interned at Bowl Season as I was pushed to think outside the box creatively, trusted with projects and allowed to demonstrate the skills I learned in the Syracuse University classroom before taking on the role.

SPM Club raises $52,675 at 18th Charity Auction

The Sport Management Club at Syracuse University raised $52,675 for Vera House as a result of its 18th Annual Charity Sports Auction.
During the Syracuse men’s basketball game on December 10, 2022, supporters placed bids on various items including sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, trips, and tickets to major sporting events. In addition to the in-person event, an online auction was held, where online supporters placed bids on hundreds of items.
Vera House’s mission it to help prevent, respond to and partner to end domestic and sexual violence and other forms of abuse.
Apex Entertainment served as the Title Sponsor for the 2022 auction.
Sport Management seniors Megan Sheehan, Alex Guo and Max Schobel served as co-chairs for the event.
The SPM Club is a student-run organization in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ Sport Management Department. Since its founding in 2005, the club has raised more than $665,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction include Boys & Girls Clubs, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the Central New York SPCA, the Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of CNY, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission Alliance, American Diabetes Association, Make A Wish CNY, Meals on Wheels, the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation and McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
“Our Sport Management Club was founded on the principles of teaching our membership the value of civic engagement, community service, and social responsibility through sports,” said Michael Veley, Rhonda S. Falk endowed professor and director of Sport Management, who also serves as the organization’s faculty advisor. “The countless hours of dedication by these students to ensure that the proceeds from our charity auction would benefit our community is extremely gratifying.”
The Sport Management Club meets weekly during the academic year. 
The beneficiary of the 2023 event will be Tillie’s Touch, whose goal is to make children’s dreams of playing a sport possible while helping them to achieve academic excellence. Tillie’s Touch provides the necessary sports and/or school equipment for a child when their family is unable to do so.

Images with captions included in this section: Sport Management seniors Megan Sheehan, Alex Guo and Max Schobel (from left) served as co-chairs for the 2022 Charity Sports Auction.

By Doug Camp, SPM ’24, SPM Club President

During the 2022-23 academic year, the Sport Management Club kept busy supporting the Central New York Community as well as welcoming guest speakers and creating networking opportunities for its members.
With the help of club advisors Michael Veley and Jeremy Losak, we returned to an in-person format for meetings and events. Sport Management Club members were able to revitalize the social bonding and relationships that truly makes this club great. Throughout the semester, our members learned about the sport industry, grew their connections, and most importantly supported the Central New York Community through philanthropic efforts.
During our time in the Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University, students are tasked with determining their career goals in the sport industry and beyond.
The Sport Management Club offers students the chance to connect with industry leaders, work alongside classmates and faculty, and learn the value of the giving back to the community. Alumni and upperclassmen provide mentorship to younger students as they begin to navigate the sport industry. This invaluable opportunity allows students to expand their professional and social skillset.
Throughout the semester, Club members heard from amazing speakers, including executives from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Colorado Avalanche, and the WWE, as well as numerous sport law professionals. These conversations with industry professionals truly aid our members in so many ways.
The most impactful part of the Sport Management Club is how we support our surrounding communities. Along with the club’s annual Charity Sports Auction, club members support numerous causes year-round in the Central New York area, including the Special Olympics and the Food Bank of Central New York.
This semester could not have been possible without the hard work of our Executive Board, including Brody Ponterelli, Dan Carroll, Adelaide Gilley, Alex Grossman and Livia McQuade. It truly is a privilege to lead this club and we are excited for the 2023-24 year as well as the future of the Sport Management Club at Syracuse University. We are honored to guide and support the members of this club in hopes to make a positive impact on their lives and the Syracuse community.

Elena Randolph wins Michigan BIG Initiative Award

Syracuse University Sport Management major Elena Randolph ’24 was named a 2022 BIG Initiative Award Winner by the Michigan Sport Business Conference, an honor presented to 11 high-achieving sport management students in the United States and Canada. BIG stands for “Build, Inspire, Grow.”

Randolph attended the prestigious conference in October 2022 in Ann Arbor, Mich. She heard from featured guest speakers and industry professionals including ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and WNBA Chief Marketing Officer Phil Cook.

“I am honored to be chosen as a BIG Initiative Award Winner,” Randolph said. “Having the opportunity to attend this conference and connect with students dedicated to being the future leaders of the sport industry was so important to me. I am thankful to have met professionals of color who encouraged me to keep pushing boundaries and creating space for other young professionals of color.” 

Launched in 2013, the BIG Initiative annually recognizes outstanding student leaders in sport business who have achieved an exceptional level of success. Each year, the MSBC attracts top applicants from across the nation. Those receiving the honor are selected on the basis of demonstrated entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and leadership. Nominees must be students with a passion for the sport industry who demonstrate a truly remarkable curriculum vitae. 

Randolph attended networking sessions and breakout panels on topics such as sport and fashion, NIL and sport storytelling. She also met with representatives from the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and the NBA. BIG Initiative winners also attended a Detroit Red Wings game, complete with a facility tour.

“It was amazing to network with representatives from those organizations,” Randolph said. “Working for the NBA is my goal, so it was beneficial to hear from these professionals and learn about opportunities to gain more experience working in 
basketball.”

Randolph interned with the WNBA in Summer 2022. She previously interned with Syracuse University Athletics in Facilities and Game Operations. Randolph is the President of the Sport Professionals of Color Club and was a 2021 Peer Advisor in Falk College. She studied abroad in London in Spring 2022.

ACC honors student-athletes

Seventeen Syracuse University Department of Sport Management student-athletes were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Honor Roll for the 2022-23 academic year. The Honor Roll is comprised of student-athletes who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a grade point average of 3.0 or better for the full academic year. The honorees for Sport Analytics, Sport Management, and Sport Venue and Event Managements majors are:

Laila Alves, Softball
Kambel Beacom, Ice Hockey
Megan Carney, Lacrosse
Stevie Chuck, Rowing
Gabrielle Dougherty, Ice Hockey
Riley Figueiras, Lacrosse
Joseph Girard III, Basketball
Evan Johnston, Lacrosse
Heidi Knoll, Ice Hockey
Thomas Porter, Football
Kirstyn Schechter, Track and Field
Marie Sommer, Field Hockey
Sam Swart, Field Hockey
Sarah Thompson, Ice Hockey
Connor Toomey, Rowing
Haley Uliasz, Rowing
Elizabeth Vogt, Rowing

Falk College Peer Ambassadors

The following Sport Management and Sport Analytics students served as Falk College Peer Ambassadors in 2022-23: 

Isabel Alfonso, Vianka Calderon, Braden Cheverie, Nick DeMaio, Tracey Edson, Grace Froehkle, Chase Gibson, Alison Gilmore, Alyssa Helland, Jack Hitter, Charlie, Maddux, Marcus Mann, Erin Moore, Marni Nirenberg, Chris Onorato, Zach Paskal, Kyla Pearlman, Mary Quinn, Dante Reese, Nick Rovelli, Eli Samuels, Marissa Schneider, Ryan Severe, Ashley Stewart, James Stickel, Anna Theodosopoulos, Sydney Topper, Francesca Vasconi, Herason Wang and Jason Weiss. 

Falk Ambassadors assist the Admissions Office staff with recruitment activities during the year. Ambassadors provide assistance at Falk College open houses, give tours and provide the student perspective at special events throughout the year.

Sales Club merges with Sport Media and Marketing Club

The Department of Sport Management’s Sales Club merged with the Sports Media and Marketing Club in Spring 2023 to become the Sales and Marketing Club.

The Sales Club was established in 2015 to act as a platform for earning members hands-on experience in the sport sales industry. In a job market with increasing demands for preliminary experience, students can add practical sales experience to their resumes. The club welcomes guest speakers in person and virtually each semester, holds workshops and events for members, while also pairing with Syracuse University Athletics to help sell tickets.

The Sport Media and Marketing Club was formed in Fall 2020 to provide students an opportunity to learn more about these particular segments of the sport industry. The club’s mission is to provide real-world experiences for students by taking part in projects as well as connecting with peers, faculty advisors, and industry professionals.

In Fall 2022, the Sales Club worked with the Midstate Athletic Community Center (MACC) ice rink in Cicero on sponsorships, while also recruiting new members. They welcomed numerous guest speakers and hosted a sales training exercise with New York Mets sales managers. During the Spring 2023 semester, an in-person Sales Combine was held for students in partnership with the New York Mets and Syracuse Legends, who provided the students with sales tips and strategies.

In Spring 2023, the Sports Media and Marketing Club focused on building podcast skills and recording episodes. Sport Management alumna Christina Brennan, president of The Digital Renegades, spoke to the club about her job and career path. 

Going forward, the Sales and Marketing Club will focus on holding interactive meetings, and welcoming guest speakers while prioritizing creating a club that acts as an inclusive space for students interested in both sales and marketing. Club members also have plans to create a podcast, where they will “talk everything sports” as well as promote club events and gain new 
members.

Sales Club officers for 2022-23 were president Jake Palczak, vice president Edu Antonio Pena Rollet and executive vice president of membership Landon Richardson. Brianna Nechifor served as president of the Sport Media and Marketing Club in Spring 2023.

The club meets weekly during the academic year. Students from all majors are welcome. For more information, contact club advisor David Meluni at dmmeluni@syr.edu or Brianna Nechifor at bnechifo@syr.edu.

Images with captions included in this section:  Jake Newman, Matthew Tang, Judah Milgrom, Brianna Nechifor, Hongyi Ji and Jack Hitter

SPM major displays research at ACC Meeting of the Minds 

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 in March 2023 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, including Jordyn Lee, a sophomore sport management major. Lee’s research was titled “Tracking a Lack of Diversity and Equity in Professional Sports Front Offices.”

In Summer 2023, Lee interned 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. 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 knowing that the possibilities are endless,” Lee says. “I left the conference more determined to raise awareness of this issue and make changes in these professional sports organizations.”

Students receive assistance from scholarship funds; 

Annual scholarships assist students with the financial aspects of completing summer internships or senior Capstones

JENNIFER CORN CARTER FUND

The Jennifer Corn Carter Senior Capstone Award for Sport Management supports students in the department during their senior Capstone experiences. For the 2022-23 academic year, three students were honored with this award: Killian Quirk, who interned with Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Fall 2022; Noah Minsky, who interned with Bowl Season in Fall 2022; and Nyah Jones, who interned with Priority Sports in Spring 2023.

Jennifer Corn Carter is a graduate of Syracuse University, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. She was honored with the Falk College’s 2010 Alumna of the Year Award for her on-going support of our students and Syracuse University. Her vision and support created the Jennifer Corn Carter Resource and Career Center in Falk College.

STUDENT LEARNING FUND

Thirteen Sport Management seniors were awarded scholarships from the Sport Management Student Learning Fund during the 
2022-23 academic year. Each received $500 to $1500.

In Summer 2023, five students earned the scholarship: Brian Hall, Justin Ma, Nicholas Nizza, Benjamin Paglia and Braeden Rowley.

In Spring 2023, five students earned the scholarships: Melanie Kelly, Jackie Thomson, Liana Wong-Wright, Andrew Schiffer and Alexander Chillemi.

In Fall 2022, three students earned the scholarships: Rahul Dua, Zachary Erber and Juliano Macera

UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER INTERNSHIP FUND

The Sport Management Summer Internship Fund is used each year to provide support to undergraduate students pursuing unpaid summer internships, enabling them to gain industry experience. Eight students were awarded scholarships for their 2023 summer internships: Carter Strauss, Aryssa Hopps, William Allen, Garrett Naylor, Brett Cerenzio, Marni Nirenberg, Landon Richardson and Jake Cohen.

For more information about the funds, contact Sport Management internship coordinator Beth Perez at erper100@syr.edu or 315-443-0450.

Women in Sports and Events (WISE)

Women in Sports and Events (WISE) is a nationally recognized group whose goal is to be a leading voice and resource for women who currently work in, or aspire to be a part of, the professional field of sports and events. In 2009, Syracuse University was voted in as the first collegiate chapter of WISE’s national organization, and since its inception on campus, has offered multiple 
professional development opportunities for members. Students in WISE are involved with numerous events and activities over the course of the academic year, including networking trips, fundraisers, interview workshops, professional development seminars, community service, and assisting with SPM alumni events.

During the 2022-23 academic year, WISE welcomed guest speakers from Major League Baseball, NBCUniversal Media, Sports Philanthropy Network, NBA, Miami Dolphins, Nashville Predators, Syracuse Mets and Women in Sports Tech. The Club attended a Women in Sports Night hosted by the Syracuse Crunch, which featured a panel of speakers from across the hockey industry. WISE collaborated with the Sport Management Club on a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Central New York as 
well as hosted a New York State Golf Association panel. Additionally, WISE hosted events that featured female staff members from Syracuse Athletics including guest speakers, facility tours and networking dinners. In addition to attending events in Syracuse, WISE continued as hosts of their annual “Coffee and Conversations” event. In Spring 2023, the event welcomed executives from the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. In May 2023, eight WISE members went on an immersion trip to Boston to meet with executives from the Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, ISlide and Boston Athletic Association, among others.

WISE members often volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Syracuse to cook and serve meals to families staying at the facility. The group also co-hosts workshops focusing on campus resources and resumes; partners with Chipotle, to fundraise for future networking trips and events; and welcomes numerous guest speakers to campus or virtually.

The club officers for 2023 are Marni Nirenberg, president; Sarah Pivawer, vice president; Erin Moore, communications chair; and Ashley Stewart, fundraising and community outreach chair.

The WISE Club includes women from all majors on campus interested in pursuing careers in sports and events. For more information, email WISE co-advisors Kailyn Jennings at kmjennin@syr.edu or Beth Perez at erper100@syr.edu, or club president Marni Nirenberg at mjnirenb@syr.edu.

Keep up with SU’s WISE Club on Social Media: Twitter: @WISE_SU; Instagram: WISE_Cuse; and Facebook: Women in Sports and Events at Syracuse University

Connecting via the Sport Professionals of Color Club

The Department of Sport Management’s Sport Professionals of Color Club is an organization that strives to uplift and connect students of color who are interested in working in the sport Industry.

The organization was formed during the 2014-15 academic year with the purpose of helping to guide young professionals in their pursuit of success and career establishment in the industry. The club strives to improve members’ professional skills, host speakers, foster networking growth, and create a sense of community among students of different backgrounds.

Over the course of the 2022-23 academic year, the club welcomed many guest speakers, with experiences ranging from the WNBA to nonprofit organizations, including Major League Baseball Diversity Pipeline Program Senior Manager Tyrone Brooks, and New York City Football Club Customer Relationship Manager Destiny Castro. Brooks spoke about MLB’s continued diversity efforts as well as gave advice about applying to internships. Castro, who graduated from the Sport Management program in 2018, shared her experience of graduating from Syracuse and working her way through New York City professional sports teams.

During Women’s History Month, the organization collaborated with Falk College’s Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Club to host a Title IX panel, featuring Syracuse Athletics Senior Women’s Administrator Kirsten Elleby and WomenX executives Tiffany Bullock and Mary Ciampa. The conversation stemmed around Title IX’s influence on college athletics and the intersectionality of being a woman and person of color working in sport.

Additionally, the organization met with student-athletes at Fowler High School to teach them about the opportunities available working in sport and college advice for transitioning out of athletics.

Elena Randolph served as club president in 2022-23.

Students look to the future of fan engagement with Fantastec 

Fan engagement strategies in the sports industry continue to advance and evolve. During the fall and spring semester, students in the SPM 345 Sport Technology class, under the leadership of Assistant Teaching Professor Kevin McNeill, were immersed exploring the development of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), commonly known as digital collectibles.

In partnership with Fantastec, a London based technology company and official digital collectible partner of Syracuse Athletics, 
students learned about the NFT industry and how it is shaping the way sports organizations are engaging fans as well as emerging opportunities in name, image and likeness. In groups, the class provided strategic recommendations to best position the technology platform with Syracuse students, alumni and fans. They met with company leadership, including Co-founder/Managing Partner Steve Madincea and Marketing Director Len Stewart. The project culminated with the delivery of a presentation and pitch decks that summarized the groups’ research and recommendations.

“The students in Sport Management are in the mindset of sports marketing, but also often fans of the sports we’re working with,” Stewart said. “What better place than to get feedback and input from those right there on campus?”

Fantastec executives visited campus and hosted a marketing focus group to showcase the application and to collect further insights from sport management students. For the students’ efforts, Fantastec made a donation to the 2022 Sport Management Club’s Charity Sports Auction. Additionally, students had the opportunity to work the Fantastec display at SU’s spring football game.

As the partnership with the University and Sport Management program continues to develop, Fantastec envisions hosting students as interns to further expand on the platform’s presence on campus.

News and Events

Syracuse University to launch degree in Esports Communications and Management 

Syracuse University will soon begin offering a new, first-of-its-kind degree program focused on esports.

The program, Esports Communications and Management, will be offered jointly by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. It will include three tracks: Esports Business and Management; Esports Communications; and Esports Media and Design.

The University will begin enrolling students to the program in fall 2024. “The esports program is a natural extension of Syracuse University’s leadership in sport-related programs and commitment to 21st century academic excellence,” said Chancellor Kent Syverud. “This new major is the latest example of Syracuse University innovating, expanding career options in emerging fields and delivering programs students want.” A proposal for the Esports Communications and Management degree was passed by Falk College and Newhouse School faculty in Fall 2022. It was subsequently passed by the University Senate in December 2022 and approved by the New York State Department of Education in February 2023.

The program, which will be among the first of its kind at a major university, taps into the rapidly growing, multibillion dollar esports industry and builds upon work already happening on campus. The Barnes Center at The Arch, the University’s recreation center, 
includes a designated esports gaming room outfitted with Omen Obelisk gaming stations; Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo consoles; SIM racing stations; and a virtual reality unit. An active Esports Club has also flourished in recent years.

Jeff Rubin, special advisor to the chancellor on esports and digital transformation, has been leading the effort to bring an esports 
major to Syracuse. For more than a year, Rubin worked with faculty and deans from both Falk College and the Newhouse School to develop the program that will span both colleges.

“It has been an extraordinary experience working with some of the smartest minds in communications and sport management to develop a program that will be at the forefront of this burgeoning industry,” says Rubin. “I am especially proud of the collaborative work that is producing the educational opportunities and experiences are students are looking for.”

Falk College has been at the forefront of sport industry education for 20 years. In 2005, Falk launched one of the nation’s earliest undergraduate degrees in sport management, followed by one of the very first undergraduate degrees in sport analytics in 2017.

“This pioneering esports degree will focus on an emerging sector of the global and domestic sport industry,” says Michael Veley, chair of the Department of Sport Management in the Falk College. “It combines the strengths of Falk and Newhouse programs in sport communications, media production, technology, business and event management to offer a cutting-edge degree.” A University-wide task force has worked to build the new degree since 2022. The well rounded curriculum is designed to provide 
students with industry-specific competencies in event management and marketing, broadcasting/production, communications, 
content creation, entrepreneurship, strategic communications and esports experience and design. The three tracks will provide students with the ability to tailor the degree according to their career goals. 

• Esports Business and Management: Covers such topics as sport promotion, sport venue management and finance for emerging 
enterprises. 
• Esports Communications: Includes coursework in virtual reality storytelling, esports and advertising, public relations principles 
and sports in the metaverse.
• Esports Media and Design: Covers 3D animation, game experience design and virtual production. 

Falk College unveils new Podcast Studio

Falk College debuted a new Podcast Studio in Summer 2023, featuring high-level equipment that includes Rode podcast production equipment, professional grade microphones and computers for post-production and editing. The studio will be outfitted for video cameras that will support a wide range of projects, including vlogs, podcast simulcasts and capturing creative content.

The branded space will serve as a facility for students in the Department of Sport Management’s Sport Technology class to learn about, design and produce their own podcast as well as supporting faculty and staff initiatives and student organizations.

The cost of underwriting the Podcast Studio was given by Falk College benefactors Richard and Linda Ritholz, parents of Sport Management graduate Julian Rithholz ’18. The Rithholz Family also provided the generous financial support of the Milton Conrad Technology Center that has benefited hundreds of Sport Management and Sport Analytics students serving as a state-of-the art teaching center and classroom. The Rithholz Podcast Studio will enable faculty and students to produce timely and newsworthy contemporary content to various constituents. We thank the Rithholz Family for their vision and financial support of our 
students.

Syracuse-UNLV partner for 2024 sport conference in Las Vegas

On July 14, 2023, UNLV Sports Innovation and Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, in 
collaboration with the Las Vegas-based guest experience agency Circle, proudly announced the launch of SEI-Con—a first-of-it-kind Sports, Entertainment & Innovation Conference hosting thought leaders and subject matter experts from across the globe to educate, collaborate, and create dynamic ventures together.

The inaugural conference will be held in Las Vegas with an opening reception July 15, 2024, and the three-day conference July 16-18. The event will include exhibitor pods, innovation labs, seminars, and daily wrap parties with music.

“There has been momentum building in the area of professional sports throughout Southern Nevada, and the economic growth that comes along with it is undeniable,” said University of Nevada, Las Vegas PresidentKeith E. Whitfield. “UNLV is a key partner in this growth, and SEI-Con is the latest example of our collaborative work to reinforce Las Vegas’ reputation as the world leader in tourism, sports, and entertainment.”

Analysts predict the global sports market to reach $2 trillion, which is 2 percent of the $100 trillion world economy, bolstered by an influx of money from new sources, emerging technologies, and growing demand. Already the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has become an emerging sports destination and is perfectly positioned to host an annual conference focused on the intersection of sports, entertainment, and innovation.

“The opportunity for our students to work on this world-class event captures the essence of our experiential-based academic programs,” said Michael Veley, founding Director and Chair and Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor in the Department of Sport Management in Falk College. “We fully embrace the collaboration with UNLV’s premier programs, the creative genius of Circle, and business partners and sports entities in one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment markets in the world.”

Attendees will have opportunities to meet industry executives and explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment, esports and gaming, sports sociology and diversity, broadcast brands and media, research and development, and more.

Students experience Boston sport industry and culture on immersion trip

The city of Boston and the surrounding area is home to five major professional sports teams, including the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Boston Celtics, the Boston Bruins, and the New England Revolution. In addition, the Hub, as Boston is known, hosts numerous sporting events throughout the year, from NCAA Tournaments and international competitions at world-class venues like Gillette Stadium and TD Garden.

Over the course of four days in May 2023, eight female Sport Management students from Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics met with seven sports organizations and 36 sport industry professionals. The meetings included executives from numerous sectors of the industry, including the Boston Athletic Association, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, Fenway Sports Management, Spartan, ISlide, and Kraft Sports and Entertainment. Jake Doft and his daughter, Class of 2022 Sport Management graduate Dara Doft, hosted the group for dinner at Yvonne’s in downtown Boston. The group also attended a Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners game.

The students were accompanied by Sport Management internship placement coordinators Kailyn Jennings and Beth Perez.

Students on the trip included Nina Bilotti, Kate Bradley, Emma Issacson, Sydney Kossoy, Anna McDonald, Erin Moore, Marni Nirenberg, and Ashley Stewart.

We asked Bilotti ’24 to share her experiences and thoughts about the Boston Immersion Trip, and this is what she wrote: “We were completely immersed into the Boston sports world for four unforgettable days!

This amazing opportunity would not have been possible without the generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Suzanne Doft and their family, who supported this trip. Also, we’d like to thank Falk College and the Department of Sport Management for putting the trip together.

The Boston Immersion Trip was a whirlwind of excitement. Meeting with teams from each of the five major professional sports leagues and top sport organizations was an incredible experience. We were honored to meet and connect with top executives and 
Syracuse alumni. I’ve always been curious about Boston/New England sports teams and culture having been a long-time Chicago sports fan.

Each day offered new experiences! We began one memorable day at TD Garden, where we met with SPM alumna Chrissy Leach’10 and Kate Sullivan, from the Celtics, and Siobhan Sherbovich, from the Bruins. We learned how both teams must work together and which aspects each team controls in the Garden and even got a tour.

Executives at the Boston Athletic Association and Fenway Sports Management offered advice and tips to help us navigate our budding careers. I also enjoyed our visit to Islide, where we met with executives who specialized in different areas of the company. We also had the opportunity to speak with Chief Executive Officer Justin Kittredge. An added bonus was playing knockout on their in-office basketball court wearing our new Syracuse-branded slides!

At Spartan, we learned about all of the different races they offer, as the executives shared their extensive and impressive backgrounds, as well as taught us how they secure partnerships for different target audiences.

At Kraft Sports and Entertainment, we were lucky enough to witness Gillette Stadium being set up for a Taylor Swift concert that weekend. I took note of different sponsors around the stadium, and the comfortability of their club lounges and suites and compared it other stadiums I’ve been to. We were honored to speak with a confident and talented group of women, including Robyn Glaser, Abbey Thistle, Tara Sullivan, Paris Healy, Jen Gahan and Katherine Hauck. We were originally greeted by Phil Buttafuoco, who highlighted the importance of networking and building relationships with the people you meet, especially on trips like this one.

At each of our stops, we spoke with knowledgeable, passionate, and kind professionals who were eager to answer our questions. Emphasis was placed on building your network, which coincides with what we’re being taught in the classroom.

I am fortunate that this was my second trip of 2023, as I spent my 2023 Spring Break in Los Angeles with the Department of Sport Management’s Los Angeles Immersion class. After the Boston trip, I compared East Coast and West Coast work culture and now have a clearer picture of what I am looking for in a place of employment. I am thankful to all the professionals who welcomed our group and took the time to speak with us, some even during playoffs. It was an absolutely incredible experience.”

Nina Bilotti ’24 is a Sport Management major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She is a member of Falk College’s 
Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Club and the Sport Management Club. Nina interns for the Syracuse University Marketing and Communications Department, and is a member of the SU women’s club lacrosse team.

Images with captions included in this section:  Sport Management internship coordinator Beth Perez, Marni Nirenberg, Nina Bilotti and Erin Moore. Back row from left: Kate Bradley, Sport Management internship coordinator Kailyn Jennings, Sydney Kossoy, 
Ashley Stewart, Anna McDonald and Emma Issacson.

Mary Graham serves as SU’s new faculty athletic representative

Dr. Mary E. Graham, professor of sport management in Falk College and an affiliated faculty in the Whitman School of Management, was named Syracuse University’s new faculty athletic representative (FAR) in August 2022. She fills a critical role ensuring that the student-athlete experience reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and overall student success.

In her role as FAR, Graham advises the Chancellor and provost on updates to legislation and policies of the NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and represent Syracuse University as the voting delegate to the annual NCAA convention. The FAR also acts as liaison between athletics and academics, periodically reporting to the faculty and administration on the academic well-being of student-athletes. Graham will also be responsible for reporting out on the academic preparation and performance of student-athletes for each sports team to the administration, Board of Trustees, Athletics Compliance Committee and head coaches, 
among others.

Graham has been a faculty member of the Falk College since 2012. She teaches courses in research methods; race, gender and diversity in sport; managing the sport organization; human resource management; and organizational behavior at the undergraduate, MBA and executive levels.

Graham succeeds Rick Burton, David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Practice in Sport Management, who served as FAR since 2014.

Falk College and Whitman School launch dual degree in Sport Management and Business

Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics are launching a new undergraduate dual degree program that helps students pursue growing career opportunities in sports business.

The new undergraduate Sport Management/Business dual degree program is an innovative program that combines rigorous business training with in-depth knowledge of the high-growth area of sport management. This new dual degree program will prepare students to be versatile, multidisciplinary, and future-leading thinkers well-prepared for careers related to various aspects of sport management and business.

This dual degree program is offered in a streamlined format, where students graduate with both degrees with a minimum of 148 credits and can graduate within four years of study.

“There is so much potential for this new dual-degree program as the areas of sports and business continue to overlap. 
Having our students become stronger interdisciplinary thinkers about these issues is truly beneficial,” Whitman School 
Interim Dean Alexander McKelvie says. “We’re also delighted to partner with Falk and its outstanding sport management program.”

“Falk College has been a national leader in educating future industry professionals in sport business, marketing, and analytics for two decades,” says Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. “The new undergraduate dual degree program capitalizes on synergies between sport management and business disciplines to give students a competitive edge in the job market.”

Admission requirements will remain similar for both programs and emphasize both academic credentials and leadership potential. Dual degree programs are highly demanding, and students should possess both strong analytical abilities and the soft skills needed for leadership positions.

High schoolers test drive analytics at summer academy

More than 50 high school students enrolled in Syracuse University’s Summer 2023 Berlin Sport Analytics Academy. This on-campus 
program was offered in two sessions (July 3-14 and July 17-28) and provided students the opportunity to explore data’s role in understanding and prioritizing information to maintain a competitive advantage in the sports industry.

Students were shown how analytics are used in a variety of sports, discussed major sport economic and analytics concepts such as the Moneyball revolution and four-factor models, and learned skills in various applications that are used in Sport Analytics courses and in the sport industry.

The groups visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Crunch, as well as the Syracuse Mets. In addition, students toured the JMA Wireless Dome and the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, while also speaking with members of the Syracuse University Athletics Department that utilize data and analytics in their various roles.

Sport Analytics professors Dr. Shane Sanders, Dr. Justin Ehrlich, Dr. Jason Maddox and Dr. Adrian Simion led the sessions, and were assisted by Sport Analytics alum Cameron Mitchell ’21, and current students Sean Boland ’24 and Thomas Armstrong ’24.

New minor created in Emerging Sport Enterprises

The Department of Sport Management has created an Emerging Sport Enterprises (ESE) minor designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in an increasingly entrepreneurial and evolving sport industry. It is an interdisciplinary minor in collaboration with the Whitman School of Management. Students take three courses in Sport Management and three course in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises. The minor is designed to be flexible to add additional Sport Management options as new courses are created to address industry needs.

Inaugural DEIA Symposium highlight of Fall semester

The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics held the inaugural “Jonathan B. Wanderstock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Sport” Symposium on October 13, 2022 on the Syracuse University campus. This was made possible in part through the generosity of Syracuse University graduate and benefactor Jonathan Wanderstock.

The event’s keynote speaker was Melissa Palarea, associate vice president of diversity and inclusion for the National Basketball Association. Panelists included Terri Jackson, executive director of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association; Josephine Martinez, senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the National Football League; John Robinson, chief executive officer of Our Ability; and John Tobias, ESPN statistician and professor at UNC Charlotte. Sport Management professor of practice Dennis Deninger served as the moderator.

“The Department of Sport Management stands in solidarity with our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility as we focus on areas of awareness, training, and education,” said Sport Management Director Michael Veley. “We seek to use sport as a platform for social justice and social responsibility and we are honored that these esteemed industry professionals took the time to come to campus for this inaugural event.”

Palarea began the event by showing a video put together by her office at the NBA, focusing on diversity and inclusion in sport. Following her keynote, the panelists took part in a roundtable discussion followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience, that included more than 200 people.

“This event was great for a plethora of reasons,” said Sport Management major Jeremiah Patterson-Yancey ’26. “Hearing about current events in the industry allows us as students to bring what we learned back to the classroom as well as reflect on what we can be doing in our community to create a space for everyone. Seeing everyone come together, listen, and ask insightful questions was special.”

The second annual “Jonathan B. Wanderstock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Sport” Symposium is scheduled for October 2023.

Sponsorship class partners with Yankees player

During the Spring 2023 semester, students in the Department of Sport Management’s SPM 324 Sport Sponsorship and Promotion 
class partnered with professional baseball player Oswaldo Cabrera, of the New York Yankees, to help build his brand and create his marketing deck.

Students met with Cabrera via Zoom prior to spring training in February. They then used sales prospecting software Sponsor United to research brands that would fit. Throughout the semester students also researched social media trends of athletes that compared to Cabrera and began building his social media strategy.

Sport Management Advisory Council president Brandon Steiner visited campus in April to talk with the students and guide them as they finished the marketing decks.

The final projects were shared with Steiner, and along with Sport Management assistant teaching professor Dave Meluni, the top students were selected and awarded a trip to Yankee Stadium to watch a game and meet with Cabrera. The students were Tracey Edson, Samantha Messina, Elizabeth Ellis, Cecelia “CJ” Westwater, Kate Lawton, Kamryn Page and Alison Gilmore.

“Taking the trip to New York City to meet with Oswaldo Cabrera and 

Brandon Steiner was an incredible experience,” said Sport Management major Tracey Edson ’24. “Working with industry professionals and professional athletes is one example of what separates the Syracuse Sport Management Department apart from other programs. This project, and many others I have done in my three years here, taught me the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities put in front of you. I am so grateful for the lengths to which each faculty and staff member here at SU go to give every student a chance to develop professionally and personally."

Students learn how LA sports mecca operates

Los Angeles is quickly becoming the sports capital of the world. Home to 11 major professional sports teams, having hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Super Bowl LVI, and winning the bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles offers a mecca of opportunities for students eager to learn about the sport industry.

Seventeen Syracuse University Sport Management students did just that over their March 2023 spring break, spending eight days immersing themselves in LA’s sport industry.

The intensive trip to Southern California is part of a course (SPM 358) that allows students to interact with industry executives and practitioners from nearly every sector of the industry. The course compares and contrasts business practices, marketing strategies, 
branding initiatives, social media outreach and the organizational culture of competing sports franchises and entities in the greater Los Angeles market.

A highlight of this year’s trip was meeting Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton for an informal Q&A session. The students also visited the Los Angeles Dodgers, UCLA Athletics, Los Angeles Football Club, NFL Network, Los Angeles Rams, So-Fi Stadium, Anheuser-Busch, Los Angeles Kings, LA Sports & Entertainment Commission, Los Angeles Clippers, Rose Bowl, Dignity Health Sports Park (LA Galaxy and AEG), Westwood One Radio, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, NASCAR, Crypto.com Arena and Legends.

“The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is truly an architectural marvel and it amazed us with its mix of classic structures and renovations,” said Sport Management major Chuqi Fang ’24. “We learned from the speakers on this trip that while academic knowledge is essential, hands-on industry experience is crucial for understanding the real world.”

Students also attended a Clippers NBA game, a Kings NHL game and an LAFC soccer match.

“This course exposes students to the many differences of managing sports entities on the West Coast compared to the East,” said Michael Veley, director and chair of Sport Management and Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor who teaches the SPM 358 course. “Los Angeles has become the sports 
capital of the world and markets to an extremely diverse population of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. More than a dozen students who have taken this course have obtained jobs based on professional networking connections made on the LA Immersion trip.”

The students were accompanied on the trip by Veley and Sport Management internship placement coordinator Kailyn Jennings. Portions of the experience are made possible by a gift from Jeff and Andrea Lomasky.

Experiencing Olympic history in US and Abroad

In February 2023, students in the Department of Sport Management (as part of their SPM 356 Olympic Sport Management class) traveled to Lake Placid, accompanied by SPM assistant professor Dr. Jamie Kim and professor emeritus Patrick Ryan. It was the department’s 12th annual Winter Olympic Odyssey trip to Lake Placid.

The group visited the United States Olympic Training Center, where Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls were training; toured the Olympic Center hockey arena, where the 1980 “miracle on ice” took place; visited the 1932/1980 Winter Olympic Museum; toured the Olympic Jumping Complex; took an elevator ride to the top of the 120-meter ski jumping tower; toured theOlympic Sports Complex; and visited the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sliding and Nordic facility. They heard from Mary Catherine Spinelli, of the Olympic Research Development Authority (ORDA), and Jon Lundin, of World University Games. Another highlight of the trip was taking Curling lessons at the Lake Placid Skating Arena.

Then, in May 2023, 13 students from across Syracuse University and the Department of Sport Management, again led by Dr. Jamie Kim, traveled to Europe as part of an 18-day, four-country Olympic Odyssey trip.

The program began in London, where students experienced the impact of the 2012 Summer Games by visiting the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Wembley Stadium. From there, they traveled to Paris, birthplace of the modern Olympic movement and host of the 2024 Summer Games. Future Olympic sites such as the Eiffel tower, Versailles, Arc de Triumph and Roland Garros (while the French Tennis Open was happening) were visited. Next, the group traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland, to inspect the present-day “Olympic Capital” and headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1915. Students met with representatives from IOC Television and Marketing Services, IOC Olympic Studies Center, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport and World Aquatics. The group then headed to Greece and toured the ancient facilities at Olympia, Delphi and Marathon. The trip concluded in Athens, site of the 2004 Summer Games.

“The Olympic Odyssey abroad trip was arguably life changing,” said Sport Management major Livia McQuade ’26. “As someone who is both interested in the Olympic sphere of sport as well as international travel, there is no better abroad opportunity that Syracuse offers.”

The group also visited the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Louvre Museum, Sorbonne University, Notre Dame, Alps, Lake Geneva, Parthenon, Agora, and the Acropolis Museum, among other sites.

Sport Analytics students win National Championship

In their professional careers, students from Syracuse University’s Sport Analytics program will have to adjust to adverse situations, think on their feet, and meet demanding deadlines.

If recent events are any indication, they’ll do just fine in the real world. Eight Sport Analytics students from Falk College competed in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship in February 2023, finishing first in the Game Analytics category and second in the Business Analytics competition as Syracuse University was the only school to have a team finish in the top four of each category.

The Game Analytics team included Alexander Borelli ’23, Benjamin Wachtel ’23, Sam Gellman ’23, and Matthew Gennaro ’23. The Business Analytics team featured Eli Miller ’22, G’23, Kylie Dedrick ’23, Shane Halpin ’22, G’23, and Corey Goldman ’23.

The eight students qualified for the second half of the national championship by finishing first in both team categories in the first half, which was held virtually. The second half was scheduled to be in-person at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas, but after flying to Washington, D.C., the students had to compete virtually because ice storms that day prevented the connecting flight to Dallas.

The students had to turn around and fly back to Syracuse, where the next morning they were given just six hours to create a presentation out of the information they were provided.

“The overall competition mimicked real-world situations, which is a wonderful situation for our students, and was challenging, both in terms of doing the analysis and picking out how to present their results in the time allotted,” says Rodney Paul, director of Syracuse University’s Sport Analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management at Falk. “Winning the Game Analytics portion and finishing second in the Business Analytics competition is a testament to the talent of our students, and we look forward to competing in both events and defending our national title in Game Analytics next year.”

More than 150 students from across the country competed in both competitions. In the final individual rankings, Borelli finished second overall in Game Analytics, and Miller and Dedrick ranked 3-4 in Business Analytics.

Borelli says while it was disappointing that they couldn’t participate in Dallas, it was still “an amazing experience” to present virtually to industry professionals who are in positions that he hopes to hold one day.

“It was awesome seeing the program take first place in Game Analytics and playing a role in that success,” says Borelli. “It means a lot to me and the program as Dr. Paul and the rest of the faculty have put a lot of work in to set us up for success in these competitions.”

The Game Analytics competitors analyzed Big 12 Conference basketball data. The Syracuse team of Borelli, Wachtel, Gennaro, and Gellman finished ahead of teams from Roanoke College, Trinity University, and University of the Pacific.

In Business Analytics, Syracuse’s team of Miller, Dedrick, Halpin and Goldman finished second to the University of Iowa and ahead 
of Texas Christian University and Baylor University. Dedrick says the six-hour limit for the presentation was challenging, but “showed me what I am able to accomplish in a short period of time.”

“It was an amazing feeling to represent the Sport Analytics program, especially being one of the few women in the program,” Dedrick says. “Placing fourth boosted my confidence in terms of my analytical skills and my ability to see a project through on my own.”

Miller says the national championship allowed the students to put into practice what they learned in the Sport Analytics program 
since arriving at Syracuse University.

“The finals in this competition allowed us to showcase these abilities as well as meet many amazing professionals from the sports industry,” Miller says. “I was happy to help the school by finishing as well as I did, and I hope that this competition has piqued the interests of industry professionals and allowed them to truly see how special this program is.”

Sport Analytics program receives second $1 million gift

In February 2023, the Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University received a $1 million gift from Syracuse University Trustee and alumnus Andrew T. Berlin ’83 as part of the Forever Orange capital campaign. It was the second $1 million gift from Berlin to the department’s Sport Analytics program since 2018.

When Falk College launched a new degree in Sport Analytics in 2016, it was responding to the sport industry’s need for trained professionals able to process and analyze ever-increasing amounts of information to guide data-driven decision making. The initial gift made numerous student focused initiatives possible.

The second gift will provide programmatic support for immersion trips, academic competitions, faculty and student research, conference presentations, and guest speakers, among other items. The funds will also support the Berlin Scholarship Fund that supports Berlin Scholars (financial assistance provided to select undergraduate sport analytics students) and incoming students each year.

“This additional gift from Mr. Berlin will further expand the opportunities available for the students in our program,” said Dr. Rodney Paul, professor of sport management and sport analytics program director. “Mr. Berlin is a leader in the business and sports world and continues to serve as a role model for our students. We are extremely grateful for his generosity and support.”

The gift also helps to support the Berlin Sport Analytics Summer Academy at Syracuse University for high school students that features guest speakers, projects, lectures and activities. Participants benefit from gaining first-hand knowledge presented by Sport Analytics faculty and students while enhancing their analytical problem-solving and presentational skills. 

Berlin is the Executive Chairman Sheild.AI, and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Berlin Packaging. He graduated with a political science degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He earned a law degree at Loyola University of Chicago, attended the Executive Program at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and studied military history at Boston University.

Analytics

Sport Analytics students put Syracuse degree program on the map

Sport analytics is a fast-growing segment of the sport industry, where many young, aspiring sport professionals are choosing to make a career. They’re data-driven—and they’re catching the eye of sports teams all over the world. In fall 2016, Syracuse University’s sport analytics program welcomed its first official freshmen class as the first undergraduate degree of its kind in the nation. The intensive program with coursework in economics, mathematics and computer programming has attracted students from around the world.

Since its launch, sport analytics at Syracuse has celebrated many successes. The program has established student-industry collaborations with EDGE10, XFL, Spotted, and Syracuse University Athletics, among others. Students have secured professional job placements prior to graduation as well as internships with top sport industry organizations and major league teams. Students and faculty have published and presented research internationally and competed in prestigious industry and academic competitions, including SABR Diamond Dollars, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, ACC Meeting of the Minds, Carnegie Mellon, and the Academy of Economics and Finance National Conference, among others. The program graduated four students in 2019, 13 in 2020, 24 in 2021, 37 in 2022 and 49 in 2023.

Here are some sport analytics program highlights from 2022-2023:

Eleven Sport Analytics seniors were named Berlin Scholars for the class of 2023: Eleven Sport Analytics seniors were named 
Berlin Scholars for the class of 2023: John Asel, Sam Auerbach, Alexander Borelli, Kylie Dedrick, Shane Halpin, Ikuo Kobayashi, Austin Murphy, Matthew Penn, Seth Quinn, Jeremy Rosenbaum and Benjamin Wachtel.

Falk’s Certificate of Advanced (CAS) Study in Sport Analytics began in Spring 2022 with four courses being offered online. Seven 
students earned their CAS in May 2023. For the 2023-24 academic year, six courses are being offered with the launch of the Master of Science in Sport Analytics degree. This STEM designated program will welcome seven students into the inaugural class this fall. Courses are designed to be eight weeks in duration delivered entirely in an asynchronous online format. This structure maximizes exposure to the largest possible audience who would be interested in learning the necessary skills in this discipline. Working professionals in the sport industry will be attracted to the program due to the skills it offers, the convenience of being able to take courses asynchronously online, and the flexibility and upside in the industry it offers.

Jonah Soos ’26 presented his research at the NINE Baseball Conference in Tempe, AZ, titled “MLB Umpires: The Study of Imperfection.” Sport Analytics Class of 2022 graduate Preston Klaus MS ’23 also presented “The Impact of Name, Image, and Likeness in the Dynamic College Baseball Landscape” at the conference. Klaus also was a member of the winning team at Sports Business Classroom’s Summer 2022 Mock Trade Deadline Competition in Las Vegas.

Eugene Tulyagijja ’25 presented his research at the Fall 2022 New York State Economics Association (NYSEA) Conference. His paper, which was focused on “Web 3’s impact on the sports business,” won the most innovative research award at the event. Tulyagijja and Jarrett Markman ’24 also presented their research at the 2022 Carnegie Melon Sport Analytics Conference. 

Johnny Asel ’23 won the 2022 Doug Pappas Award for best oral research presentation at the “SABR 50” Conference in Baltimore in Fall 2022. His research was titled “Meta Pitch Tracking: How The Changes In Pitch Tracking Technologies Should Change How We Look At The Data They Collect.” The Doug Pappas Award was originally established as the USA Today Sports Weekly Award in 1992 and renamed in 2004 to honor the late baseball researcher. 

Alison Gilmore ’24 was honored with the award for Positive Advocacy and Awareness at Syracuse University’s “44 Stars of Excellence” Gala in May 2023. The 44 Stars of Excellence Awards acknowledge students, advisors, and recognized student organizations who demonstrate outstanding dedication and commitment to their organization and its mission. The Positive Advocacy Award is presented to students who have been the most effective in promoting social justice and raising awareness for a cause whether on the SU campus or in the greater community. Gilmore was also named a Remembrance Scholar for the Class of 2024, one of the highest honors given by Syracuse University.

Austin Murphy ’23 won the best undergraduate research competition at the Academy of Economics and Finance conference in Orlando, Florida, in February 2023. His paper, based on his senior thesis, was “The Madness of March: Using Betting Spreads to Identify Selection Bias in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.” “Winning the competition was an amazing feeling and something I am very proud of,” Murphy says. “I have put a lot of effort into my thesis, and it was incredibly rewarding to be recognized for my hard work. I’m hoping my success will inspire other students to continue developing their skills to push the success of this program to even higher levels.”

Isabel Alfonso ’25 (right), along with public health student Mara Miranda, presented their research, “Factors Associated with Neurodegenerative Causes of Death in Professional Football Players,” at Syracuse University’s SOURCE Spring 2023 Symposium. There they presented their initial findings on the association between risky plays and helmet regulations.

Quinn Robnett ’23 competed in the NHL Hack-A-Thon at the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference in Boston in March 2023.

Sixteen Sport Analytics students attended the 2023 MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference in Boston. Twenty Sport Analytics students traveled to Phoenix, AZ, in March 2023 for the National Sabermetrics and Baseball Statistics Competition.

The Third Annual Syracuse University Football Analytics Blitz was held in Spring 2023. More than 10 teams from colleges and universities across the country participated in the event that featured judges from the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys, the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts, Sports Info Solutions, the 33rd Team, Pro Football Focus, and TruMedia. The teams received their prompt the week before the competition and were given one week to solve the prompt and put together a presentation on their findings. Room winners included The University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, and Duke University, with the University of Pennsylvania team selected as the overall competition winner. Also, the Department hosted the inaugural Basketball Analytics Competition in Spring 2023 with 16 colleges and universities participating. 

The Sport Analytics Learning Community for first-year students kept busy in 2022-23, meeting their fellow classmates as well as learning how to code, organizing various sports tournaments, participating in workshops focusing on Tableau and RStudio, meeting with faculty advisors, attending a Thursday Night Football watch party, taking part in a faculty/students basketball game, and attending a Women in Hockey event at the Syracuse Crunch.

Jackson Hett ’23 and Sport Analytics alumnus Preston Klaus ’22, MS ’23 finished second at the 2023Tulane 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. It was the highest finish by a non-law school team in the 
competition’s history.

Class of 2021 Sport Analytics graduate Nick Ricciardi taught Sport Economics (SPM 365) for the department in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.

As of May 2023, 44 students at Syracuse University are minoring in sport analytics.

Falk College will welcome 60 sport analytics freshmen to campus in Fall 2023

Breaking Barriers at the Ballpark

Sport analytics major champions power of data to improve performance and is inspired to create a more inclusive society.

Alison Gilmore ’24 has a deeply heartfelt passion for baseball and softball. Diagnosed at 2 ½ years old with cerebral palsy, she 
never had the opportunity to compete on the diamond, but she sure embraced the game.

The Pennsylvania native, who has a twin sister, settled in on the sidelines, rooting for her siblings, tracking statistics and joining her dad as a longtime dedicated fan of the Baltimore Orioles.

“The baseball and softball fields were kind of my home growing up,” says Gilmore, a sport analytics major in Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “I looked forward to the early morning games. I loved interacting and watching them play—and my love of sports grew from that.”

Gilmore attended the 2022 Society for American Baseball Research’s 50th anniversary convention in Baltimore. She counts meeting members of the Baltimore Orioles’ front office as among her highlights of the gathering.

Today, that love is evident. Gilmore relishes tuning into ballgames, soaking up stats and building her knowledge base. She’s a Dean’s List student who’s enhancing her education with a minor in sport management and one in information management and technology from the School of Information Studies. All of this supports her focus on developing her programming and data analysis skills with the goal of landing a front-office analytics position with a Major League Baseball team after graduation.

“I think data is really powerful,” she says. “To uncover extra information that could help a team or an organization improve its performance excites me.”

Gilmore recognizes her identity as a disabled woman is a rarity in the male-dominated sport industry, and she is motivated by the 
idea of being a role model for others, carrying that drive with her beyond the playing fields. “I have always realized the importance of educating others in order to create a more inclusive society,” she says.

As a disability advocate, she shares her story to help other students with disabilities navigate their journeys. She does that, in part, as a student assistant at the Intercultural Collective and Disability Cultural Center, where she welcomes students at the front desk and serves as a peer mentor. “I always say that my disability doesn’t define me, but it’s a huge part of my identity and who I am. Obviously our society was built for able-bodied individuals, and so I often have to overcome the inaccessibility and ableism that’s deeply rooted in society,” she says. “I’m faced with that every day, and I have a huge compassion for individuals with disabilities, so being able to engage with them as a mentor is really important to me.”

Gilmore saw sport analytics as a perfect way to combine her math and statistics skills with her love for sports—and she credits her father for first learning about the Syracuse University program and knowing she’d love it.

“I looked into sport analytics and from that day I knew I wanted to come to Syracuse,” she says. “I’m so grateful to be here and forever grateful to my family for encouraging me.”

Once on campus, Gilmore needed little encouragement to get involved. While facing some difficult challenges during her transition to college life, she appreciated the support she received from the Falk College community, especially sport analytics program manager Francesco Riverso G’05 and academic counselor Matthew Yager.

For instance, Riverso recalls Gilmore speaking to her peers in the Sport Analytics Living Learning Community at an event focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). “Alison was candid about her journey as a disabled woman studying in sports, and it was incredibly inspiring,” he says. “She captivated the audience with her honesty, sharing her experiences in an effort to educate and inspire the first-year students. This was quintessential Alison, a young woman who is dedicated to impacting her community through her advocacy, insight and passion.

Right off the bat, Gilmore joined the Sport Analytics Women club and currently serves as vice president of the student organization, which conducts research and networks with women leaders in the field. She also became a member of the Baseball Statistics and 

Sabermetrics Club, which does research and competes in Diamond Dollars Case Competitions hosted by the Society for American 
Baseball Research (SABR). Her devotion to analyzing baseball stats was rewarded when she received an Anthony A. Yoseloff Foundation scholarship to attend SABR’s 50th anniversary convention in August 2022 in Baltimore.

That wasn’t Gilmore’s only valuable experience that summer. She was also the recipient of a Women in Sports Tech Inc. Fellowship, 
which placed her at Zoomph—a sport analytics platform that tracks sponsorship, media value exposure and audience behavior—as a social intelligence analyst intern.

As a Berlin Scholar at Falk, Gilmore is among an elite group of students in the sport analytics program who receive scholarship and 
financial assistance, participate in competitions and symposiums, and conduct research with a faculty mentor. Under the guidance of Professor Rodney Paul, director of the sport analytics program, she plans to explore the effectiveness of the changing roles of pitchers in Major League Baseball.

When Gilmore needs inspiration, she keeps in mind the work of acclaimed sportscaster Jason Benetti ’05, whose broadcasts she’s admired for years, long before she even knew he was a Syracuse alumnus or that they shared the same disability. Through the Falk College network, Gilmore connected with Benetti, who’s now with Fox Sports. He serves as a mentor to her—his hard work, dedication and success showing her that “you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” she says.

Outside of the sports world, Gilmore is passionate about making a positive impact on other students and helping them succeed. She meets prospective students as a Falk admissions ambassador and serves as a First-Year Seminar peer leader, facilitating DEIA discussions. She’s been active in OrangeSeeds— the University’s first-year volunteering and leadership empowerment program—as a participant, mentor and member of the executive and membership boards.

Gilmore cites her experiences at Syracuse University for helping her build leadership and public speaking skills and gain self-confidence, and she says the sport analytics program “has done wonders in preparing” her for the work she wants to pursue. 

Written by Jay Cox, Syracuse University Magazine, and originally published in December 2022

Falk College forms research partnership with Kitman Labs

Thanks to a collaboration between Falk College and Kitman Labs, six Sport Analytics students from Syracuse University experienced real-world opportunities during the Spring 2023 semester.

Kitman Labsis the world’s leading sports science and performance analytics company. The six Sport Analytics majors from Falk’s Department of Sport Management (Robert “RJ” Frahm, Benjamin Jennings, Caden Lippie, Garrett Naylor, Zachary Palfey, and Jonah Soos) were assigned weekly tasks to answer questions about the impact of the National Basketball Association (NBA) schedule on player injuries.

“The best way to learn the analytical skills we’ll need for our future careers is to work directly with real-world data,” says Palfey, who graduated in May 2023 and is now working as a digital analytics assistant for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. “Kitman provided us with injury data, and we were tasked with gathering NBA schedule data. It was a great experience to match the two datasets and analyze different tendencies over time.”

Kitman Labs has an established history of working with top teams and athletes across a variety of sports. The company’s technology has been used by teams in many of the world’s most elite sports leagues, including the NCAA, Premier League (soccer), and NFL.

“It’s hard to emphasize the value of an experience like this; it takes everything we do in classes and applies it to the real world and sports industry,” says Soos, who’s in his second year of a 3+1 program majoring in sport analytics and minoring in sport management and economics. “It was a chance to learn and do what I love, and our results mattered and can make a difference. It was a defining experience in my freshman year and a partnership I hope to continue in the future.”

The opportunities to work with Kitman will continue for Soos and other Sport Analytics students as Kitman and Falk have announced a research partnership that will produce detailed analysis and findings on a wide range of topics on a quarterly basis starting in Fall 2023. Timely topics investigated in the studies will include the impact of load management and back-to-back games on the health and performance of NBA players, performances in women’s sports, and other areas. “My freshman year consisted of mostly general classes, so having an opportunity to work on an analytics project was great,” says Lippie ’26. “I also found the support from the other students I worked with to be extremely valuable. Going into the project with little experience, I was not expecting to be contributing much, however, with the support of the group and Kitman, I was able to contribute and learn a lot in the process.”

Dr. Rodney Paul, director of the Sport Analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management, is always on the lookout for potential business partners and he worked with adjunct professor and Sport Analytics alum Nick Riccardi on developing the partnership with Kitman.

“Kitman Labs is doing important, innovative, and informative work in sports, and it’s an honor to have our students working on projects with them,” Paul says. “From day one, they have shown a genuine interest in helping our students improve and preparing them for work in the industry. We are excited about the collaboration between the talented professionals at Kitman and our students.”

Soos, who worked with Paul in the fall of 2022 on an independent research project on Major League Baseball umpires, says he 
jumped on the opportunity to work with Kitman because “they’re an exciting company doing exciting things.” For the project, Soos 
created a “star-player” variable to measure the top players on each NBA team, and used that variable to assess injuries, team success, and how and when stars were injured or rested.

“Opportunities to work with real data while creating real conclusions and discoveries are few and far between for college students, let alone underclassmen,” Soos says. “Along with that, (Kitman’s team) took the time to meet with us weekly, get to know us, and were quick to answer our questions and concerns.”

Soos, Palfey and Lippie all say they want to thank Kitman, professors Paul and Riccardi, and their fellow Sport Analytics colleagues for their partnership and support this past spring. For Kitman, the feeling was mutual.

“We are proud to work with Professor Paul and the students at Falk College on a series of critical research topics that will help better understand and amplify the work we are doing in the space with a wide number of teams, leagues, and sports,” says Stephen Smith, CEO and Founder of Kitman Labs. “Our goal is to continue to dig deeper on the how and why tied to data and performance success, and having a cooperative research partner at Syracuse will be invaluable in making these vital studies even more relevant, timely, and actionable.”

Analytics clubs abound for all interests

In the classroom, Falk College Sport Analytics students take a deep dive into analyzing data in sport, while incorporating studies in 

arts and sciences with professional electives and liberal arts requirements. Outside of the classroom, students are encouraged to join organizations that fit their interests, educational goals and career aspirations. All student organizations meet weekly during the academic year. Visit falk.syr.edu/sport-management/student-organizations/ for more information.

Baseball Sabermetrics and Statistics Club

Sabermetrics is the study of advanced baseball statistics. This club conducts in-depth discussions about everything related to baseball, with members taking part in a fantasy baseball league and guest speakers brought in on a variety of topics throughout the year. Over the course of the 2022-23 academic year, club members worked on several research projects including constructing a model for Beat the Streak, evaluating which pitchers could benefit from a change in pitch repertoire, and analyzing the effect of a pitcher’s jersey color on hitter performance.

Club meetings also consisted of discussing Major League Baseball (MLB) current events, participating in a mock offseason where members act as the General Manger of a Major League Baseball franchise, and fun activities such as MLB jeopardy and watch parties.

The club welcomes numerous guest speakers throughout the year, including MLB executives, baseball publication writers and baseball analytics professionals such as Jeff Passan, MLB insider and columnist at ESPN; Sean Forman, President of Sports Reference; Scott Shapiro, Product Manager at Major League Baseball; Jennifer Brann, Baseball Analytics analyst for the Miami Marlins; and SU alumnus Justin Perline, Quantitative Analyst for the Pirates, among others.

In Spring 2023, for the ninth straight year, Club members participated in the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics’ Spring Diamond Dollars Case Competition in Phoenix (AZ). Undergraduate teams were separated into competition rooms, where they presented to judges. They also attended a Chicago Cubs Spring Training game.

Since 2015, SU SABR club members have competed in the prestigious SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition at NYU, and winning best presentation in 2017. Students are given a topic and then given five days to collect data, create a model, and prepare a 30-minute presentation on the topic to be given in New York City in front of Major League Baseball executives.

Club officers for 2022-23 were Alex Oppel, Matt Penn, Will Cave, Nathan Backman, Rob White, Dan Beim and Isabel Alfonso.

Basketball Analytics Club

The Syracuse University Basketball Analytics  Club concluded its seventh year in 2022-2023 with more than 50 members who strive 
to uncover fascinating statistical trends in basketball through research as well as maintaining a fun environment to discuss and debate all things basketball.

The organization was assembled to conduct analysis on the NBA, NCAA, and high school basketball and has expedited the process of recording large sums of data at an efficient pace. Club members are working on research on a variety of topics focusing on professional and college basketball organizations, teams, players and business strategies.

During the 2022-23 academic year, guest speakers included Chris Robinson (Utah Jazz), Jay Porterfield (Los Angeles) Clippers, Buddy Scott (Boston Celtics), Nick Elam (Elam Ending) and SPM alum Dom Samangy (Arkansas Razorbacks.) Club members participated in the Syracuse University Basketball Analytics Competition, Mock Case Competition, Milwaukee Bucks Hackathon, Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition, Mock Trade Deadline, Expansion Draft, NBA Mock Draft, Fantasy Basketball League and a Scavenger Hunt.

Jackson Hett served as club president for 2022-23.

Football Analytics Club

The Football Analytics Club was established during the 2017-18 academic year and became an officially recognized Syracuse University student organization in Fall 2019. The club started with four members, grew to 40 the next year, and now features more than 75 members. The club meets weekly discussing all things related to football, conducting research, competing in trivia contests, and welcoming guest speakers, among other activities.

During the 2022-23 academic year, club members were active on their research projects as well as planning the Third Annual Syracuse University Football Analytics Blitz. Also, club members formed teams for the NFL’s Big Data Bowl, working in groups to answer the prompt, while gaining valuable experience competing in the intense football analytics competition.

The Football Analytics Club routinely welcomes sport industry guest speakers, who give students insight into the use of analytics in both professional and college football.

Mitch Bereznay served as club president for 2022-23.

Hockey Analytics Club

The Hockey Analytics Club is a student-run organization that meets weekly during the academic year to discuss trends and events in the world of hockey. The Club also conducts analytical research and has worked with the Syracuse University women’s ice hockey team, the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, and the Tennity Adult League.

During the 2022-23 year, the club continued its research project titled “NHL Roster Salary Composition’s Effect on Team Success.” Club members also staged various activities such as a mock trade deadline, club fantasy hockey league, in-season predictions discussions, draft and free agency prediction activities and an analytics-based scavenger hunt. Outside of club meetings, members frequently got together to play floor hockey at the multipurpose court at SU’s Barnes Center.