University of Southern Maine
One of our program’s strengths is that it is housed in the School of Business. The sports industry today on any level is a business, and people in the industry want people with business skills. The fact that we’re part of an AACSB-accredited business school only increases the recognition of the quality of the business education our students receive.
Another strength is our location. Portland has a pretty strong sport business community. We have the minor league teams, and adventure sport marketing agencies such as Octagon and Aura360, which are all great resources for partnerships, internships, guest speakers, that sort of thing.
Our internship program is an incredibly important part of what we’re doing. Students need to get out and experience sport marketing and management to see if they enjoy it. They not only get the experience of actually doing the work, but it also helps with networking and it builds their resume. I work closely with students to find an internship that fits their interest – such as marketing, sponsorship opportunities, event planning. The Red Sox, the Celtics, and the U.S. Olympic Committee are all examples of organizations I’ve had student interns in the past.
I’ve been in education my entire professional career, and I think of myself foremost as a teacher. My little venture into sport marketing has given me practical experiences in the field that enhance what I can do in classroom. My experience with the McCall’s LPGA Classic in Vermont was huge. It was a great professional growth opportunity. I started in event coordination and went on to be tournament director.
Now, in addition to having great stories to tell, I can share with students what it means to work with million-dollar sponsors and ESPN, which broadcast our events. It was a fascinating experience. I could bring it back to the classroom and talk with students about how these events actually work. Then there are all these great contacts we can use to possibly set up meaningful internships. The five or six years I spent doing that has enhanced everything I do with students.
Yes, I do. They’re passionate about sports, like I was and still am, and it’s nice to be able to channel that passion in an academic setting. I feel like it wasn’t that long ago that I was an undergraduate, trying to figure it all out, not being completely confident what the next step should be. I remember all that.
My job is to provide guidance, to open students’ eyes to new information, and to help them find the meaningful application of it. As a facilitator, I try to get students to open up, and feel free to express their opinions.
Their ability to juggle the major time demands they face is surprising. I have a real appreciation for students’ level of commitment to learning. They’re really uplifting to be around.
Three who stand out are very similar. They’re really involved with multiple activities, on and off campus. They have a lot going on in their lives, and they still manage to perform at a very high level in the classroom. They’re just outstanding students. How they manage all that is amazing.
A lot of students, through their work experience, offer great examples of issues we face in terms of management and marketing. They draw from that experience and really add to the conversation. If they’ve come back from an internship, I really take advantage of that. It didn’t have to be an internship in sports, it could have been experience that can add to the challenges we face in group dynamics, or a team setting.
Also, we have students audit events, first as a fan, then as a part of the management team. We talk about the consumer behavior of sports. We ask them to write about their experience from a fan’s point of view, tell us how fans feel and act. Then we have them go observe from management side of things. What’s handled well? What needs to be done better?
I live in Windham. I spent 10 years in London, but I grew up in the country, and I lived in Vermont for five years. I enjoy open spaces, plus I have two Great Danes, and they enjoy their space as well.
We have the ocean, the mountains, and the lakes all right here. At same time, we have this great vibrant little city with so much to offer. You really can’t beat living in Vacationland, can you?
