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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

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July 2020 faculty, staff and alumni notes

In the News

Faculty/Staff Notes

  • Nick Watanabe was part of a group of researchers who compiled a working paper on the effects of pro sports games on transmitting the flu and applied those lessons to COVID-19. The study has been featured in U.S. News and World Report and Fivethirtyeight.com.
  • Stephen Shapiro and Todd Koesters published a white paper in Sport and Entertainment Review Journal on returning to sport and entertainment venues amidst COVID-19.

Alumni Notes

Accomplishments/awards

  • Nirjary M. Desai (B.S. Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, 2003) was interviewed by Shoutout Atlanta regarding her work as the CEO of KIS (cubed) Events

Job changes/promotions

2020

  • TJ Shook (B.S. Retail Management) signed a free-agent deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Lyric Swinton (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a position as the co-founder and director of engagement of Secure The Ballot.

2019

  • Nevonne Burrell (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as a member services captain at The Alotian Club.
  • Parker Coggins (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Insight Global as an account manager.
  • Erica DeVito (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position as a space management support analyst for SAS Retail Services.
  • Sarah McKendrick (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with TalentX Entertainment as an executive assistant to the vice president and head of talent.

2018

  • Alex Arthur (B.S. Retail Management) started a new position as a store manager with Sherwin-Williams.
  • Elliott Erikson (B.S. Hospitality Management) was promoted to sales and revenue manager at The Dewberry Charleston.
  • Emma Jardine (B.S. Retail Management) started a position with Bella Bridesmaids as a stylist.

2017

  • Katie Magiafas (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Total Wine & More as an associate buyer. 

2016

  • Sarah Goodwin (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position as a vendor manager for Amazon.
  • Maggie Tibbetts (B.S. Information Technology) started a new position with NCR Corporation as an HR operations analyst.

2015

  • Brittany Adcock (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a position with Bristol Myers Squibb as a talent acquisition partner for Cell Therapy Development and Operations.

2014

  • Ryan Prendergast (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management, M.H.R. Human Resources, 2016) started a new position as an HR operations specialist for Pine Gate Renewables.
  • Hayley van Gorder (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) was promoted to senior global merchandising analyst at Michael Kors.

2011

  • Christina Saragnese (B.S. Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management) was promoted to Worldwide Sales – senior manager for Government and Military Hilton at Hilton. 

2010

  • Mary Lanham (B.S. Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management) started a new position as the regional director of revenue and marketing strategy for The Howard Hughes Corporation.

2005

  • Paul Mashack (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with Capital One as a project coordinator. 

2003

  • Calvin Gerald-Kornmann (B.S. Information Technology) started a new position with General Dynamics Information Technology as a senior solutions manager (ServiceNow).
  • Cedric Williams (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with the Los Angeles Chargers as a coaching intern.

1991

  • Chris Riccardi (M.S. Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management) started a position with Outrigger Hospitality Group as the senior vice president of global sales.

Click here for more alumni news and notes.


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