Syracuse Sport Management, Sport Analytics, Esports 2024-2025 Newsletter

Inside

Congratulations to the Class of 2025

Esports Communications and Management Update

Immersion Trips and Experiential Learning

Student Organizations

Sport Analytics Program Success

Alumni

From the Department Chair

As we look upon the 2025-2026 academic year, we do so at a very exciting time for Sport Management. This year we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sport Management program at Syracuse University, welcome the first large student cohort for Esports Communications and Management, and Sport Analytics will capitalize on its tremendous success and growth and become its own department.

These accomplishments would not be possible without our students, alumni, Advisory Board and Emerging Leaders Council members, program supporters, industry partners, and past and present faculty and staff. As we enter a time of change for the department, college, and the sport industry, we strive to develop preeminent academic programs in sport.

Our focus remains on providing real-world learning experiences and opportunities for our students, study abroad and study away offerings which enrich the student experience, innovative research designed to expand knowledge while providing thought leadership, and a curriculum which meets the needs of the industry and prepares our students to enter the workforce.

This newsletter highlights the many accomplishments of our Sport Management, Sport Analytics, and Esports Communications and Management students. We continue to be amazed by, and proud of, their achievements. From international and domestic Capstone experiences, award-winning research, innovative class projects with industry professionals, raising a record amount of money for local charities, winning academic competitions, networking on immersion trips, providing leadership to clubs, and much more, we hope you share in our excitement for their achievements and what’s to come.

We will continue to update you with department news and opportunities to get involved, connect, and share in our collective success. We encourage you to stay connected with us as we work together to fulfill our vision of being the leading Sport Management academic program.

Sincerely,

Patrick Walsh, Ph.D.

Professor, Department Chair Sport Management

Welcome and Greetings From the Dean

In the fall of 2005, the first class of 45 sport management students arrived at what was then called the College of Human Services and Health Professions. Now, 20 years later, we proudly welcome the nearly 400 new students who will enter the reimagined David B. Falk College of Sport–the nation’s first standalone college at a high-research activity university to focus solely on sport-related disciplines.

With programs in esports communications and management, exercise science, nutrition, sport analytics, and sport management, the Falk College of Sport will blend rigorous academics with immersive experiences as our students prepare to embrace and reshape the highly evolving sport industry.

We have entered this new era of Falk College thanks to the incredible work of our dedicated community of alumni, faculty, staff, students, donors, and partners. Thank you for your continued support and contributions over the last 20 years, and I can’t wait to see where you’re going to help take us over the next 20!

Jeremy S. Jordan, Ph.D.

Professor and Dean, Falk College of Sport

Students

Congratulations to the Class of 2025

The Department of Sport Management would like to congratulate 104 Sport Management undergraduates and 52 Sport Analytics undergraduates who received their degrees as part of the Syracuse University Class of 2025.

Our Department’s traditional celebration of graduates during Commencement Weekend was held for seniors and their families, as well as faculty and staff, on May 9 in Falk College.

We are very proud of our Sport Management and Sport Analytics graduates. The Class of 2025 will be remembered with distinction as 66 students graduated Cum Laude, 42 graduated Magna Cum Laude and 21 graduated Summa Cum Laude. Eleven students earned a Master’s Degree in Sport Analytics. Seven students earned a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Sport Analytics.

Department Marshals were Piper Evans (Sport Analytics) and Stevan Chuck (Sport Management).

Eighteen Sport Management students received an Academic Achievement Award for earning a GPA of 3.4 or higher for each of their consecutive semesters at Syracuse University: Nicholas Albanese, Jared August, Nathan Blashka, Ian Donella, Griffin Goldberg, Jack Hitter, Katherine Holler, Emma Isaacson, Matthew Kahan, Leo Lau, Livia McQuade, Kirstyn Schechter, Sawyer Shalit, Jacob Tilem, Alivia Uribe and Tynan Weathers.

Sport Analytics majors Isabel Alfonso, Nathan Backman, Piper Evans, Madelyn Forster, Hunter Geise, Adelaide Gilley, Caitlin Kohlmeier, Hunter Kuchenbaur, Chris Marfisi, Jarrett Markman, Anna Pierce, Ryan Severe, Jonah Soos and Evan Vassilovski were named Berlin Scholars.

Class of 2025 Awards:

• Excellence in Sport Management Award: Livia McQuade

• Sport Management Award for Academic Promise: Jacob Tilem

• Sport Management Academic Honors Award: Nathan Blashka

• Sport Management Professional Engagement Award: Jack Hitter

• Sport Management VIP Award: Brooke Siket

• Jason Morales Perseverance in Sports and Life Award: Elizabeth Carruthers

• Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Award: Erin Moore

• Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award: Tynan Weathers

• Patrick Ryan Innovation in Sport Award: Alivia Uribe

Photos in this section with captions included: A photo showing Sport Management award winners posed with awards in hand; Sport Management Marshal Stevan Chuck,Sport Analytics Marshal Piper Evans and Falk College Scholars AnnaPierce, Jarrett Markman, Jonah Soos and Benjamin Jennings; Sport Management seniors Aryssa Hopps, Livia McQuade,Erin Moore, Katie Holler and Brooke Siket at the 2025 Falk CollegeConvocation; Sport Analytics graduates Brett Cerenzio, Jonah Soos,Isabel Alfonso, Caden Lippie, Dylan Stafeil, Jayke Pastis and Aaron Rofeat Falk College Convocation.

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 2024-25 academic year, five students were honored with this award: William Gordon, who interned with Syracuse University Athletics; Jordyn Lee, who interned with Syracuse University Athletics; Marni Nirenberg, who interned with WSC Sports; Christopher Robinson, who interned with the Syracuse Crunch; and Aidan Zaicek, who interned with Orange United.

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

Fourteen Sport Management seniors were awarded scholarships from the Sport Management Student Learning Fund during the 2024-25 academic year. Each received $500 to $1000. The scholarships went to Jared August, Vianka Calderon, Maggie Fleck, Jared Hackmyer, Michael Hartmann, Emma Issacson, Jordan Krebs, Livia McQuade, Edu Pena Rollet, Luke Profaci, Mary Quinn, John Savage, Griffin Stark, and Jake Williams.

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.

Thirteen students were awarded scholarships for their 2025 summer internships: Oliver Almeter, Mikayla Bengsch, Josh Berzow, Bryan Calle, Timothy Caulfield, Charlie Liu, Marcus Mann, Danielle Napierski, Zack Oatman, Hayden Orenstein, Chase Rosenblum, Ramon Sara and Owen St. Onge.

For more information about the funds, contact the Department of Sport Management at 315-443-9881.

Student photos included in this section: William Gordon, Jordyn Lee, Marni Nirenberg, Christopher Robinson, Aidan Zaicek.

ACC honors student-athletes

Fifteen Syracuse University Department of Sport Management student-athletes were named to the Atlantic CoastConference (ACC) Honor Roll for the 2024-25 academic year. The Honor Roll is comprised of student-athletes who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a gradepoint average of 3.0 or better for the full academic year. The honorees for Sport Analytics and Sport Management majors are:

• Laila Alves, Softball

• Peyton Armstrong, Ice Hockey

• Stevan Chuck, Crew

• Anna Croyle, Soccer

• Taylor Davison, Softball

• Lauren Fox, Softball

• Jack Grossman, Soccer

• Heidi Knoll, Ice Hockey

• Emma Muchnick, Lacrosse

• McKenzie Olsen, Lacrosse

• John Richiusa, Lacrosse

• Marissa Saunders, Track

• Nea Tervonen, Ice Hockey

• Alivia Uribe, Soccer

• Georgia Woolley, Basketball

Support our students and faculty

The Sport Management Discretionary Fund provides students with professional development opportunities such as attending conferences, networking events, immersion experiences, and learning from guest speakers. It also supports faculty through professional development funding and conference travel to present their research.

Make your gift today!

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 2024-2025. We are grateful to our growing list of Capstone partners, who continue to provide tremendous learning opportunities for our students.

Fall 2024

Spring 2025

Summer 2025

Capstone

Getting the ball rolling with Brooklyn FC

By Edu Pena Rollet, SPM ’25