In the news

• The Reality of Student-Athletes During the Pandemic: Observatory of Educational Innovation (feat. Richard Southall)
• Columbia’s first Apple store has a new name, looks to open in May on USC campus: Post & Courier (feat. Saundra Koesters)
• Reducing Food and Disposal Waste: AllinFoodz podcast (feat. Robin DiPietro)
• Starbucks is expanding rapidly in Columbia but that’s not slowing independent coffee shops: Post & Courier (feat. Robin DiPietro)
• Interactive art exhibit encourages USC community to share messages about diversity: Cola Daily (feat. Sporty Jeralds)
• New additions have grown campus, will continue to change USC in future: Daily Gamecock
• New exhibit at USC promotes inclusion and diversity: WACH Fox (feat. Sporty Jeralds and students Tess Morrisroe and Jie Dong)
• Should sports betting be legal in all states?: WalletHub (feat. Stephen Shapiro) 
• As bars lose liquor licenses, fate of Five Points up in the air: Daily Gamecock (feat. Robin DiPietro)
• NFL Draft talk outstrips NCAA ideals in bowl broadcasts: Sportico (feat. College Sport Research Institute)
• The joy of nurturing students and watching them develop a passion for working in events: The Events Insight podcast (feat. Steve Taylor)

Faculty, staff and student notes

• Armen Shaomian was a panelist for the “Rethinking Music Jobs” session at the Amplify Music 2021 conference. 
• Karen Edwards and Sandy Strick’s "Using 360' videos to provide cultural immersion  in virtual study abroad courses" has been accepted into the Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository. 
• The latest edition of the Thomas H. Regan Executive Sport Seminar featured Fred Whitfield, president, vice chairman, alternate governor and minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, with alumnus Josh Rosen (Sport and Entertainment Management, 2002), now senior director of corporate communications for the Hornets, serving as moderator. Video of the lecture is available on the HRSM YouTube page. 

Alumni news

Accomplishments/Awards:

• Stacey Woods (B.S. Integrated Information Technology, 1998) was recognized by the National Diversity Council on their DiversityFIRST Power 50 list.
• Allyson Frame (B.S. Tourism Management, 2018) and Audrey Petrilli (B.S. Hospitality Management, 2017) were selected as recipients of Chick-fil-A’s Remarkable Futures Scholarship.
• William Howell (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management, 2019) was announced as the next Athletic Director of Beaufort Academy. 

Job Changes/Promotions:

2020

• Madalyn Hair (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position as an accessories consultant with Kleinfeld Bridal.
• Riley Sipes (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty as an agent relations manager.

2019

• Gregory Theile (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as a food and beverage supervisor at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center. 

2018

• Ned Madden (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a senior event coordinator with Peter Millar.

2017

• Sarah Barreca (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Ralph Lauren as a global associate merchandiser: Women’s Polo Accessories and Footwear. 

2016

• John Black (B.S. Hospitality Management) was promoted to assistant general manager at Transit Valley Country Club.

2015

• Diego Bufquin (Ph.D. Hospitality Management) was promoted to associate professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
• Kristen Tucker (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Anheuser-Busch as a trade marketing supervisor.
• Kristin Watkins (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position as a buyer with Belk. 

2013

• Brooke Cima (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with Oak View Group as the assistant general manager at Savannah Arena. 
• Melinda Slaski (B.S. Tourism Management) started a position as a director of strategic partnerships with HackerX.
• Lenny Swinton (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as a task force consultant with Transformation Hospitality Solutions. 

2012

• Dominique Gray (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as the assistant general manager at Eastpointe Country Club.
• Tyler McBride (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to manager, College Sports Programming at ESPN.

2009

• Liesl DeVito (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Coach as a director, Global Merchandising Men’s Ready to Wear.

2003

• Michael Corcoran (B.S. Sport and Entertainment) started a new position with Oak View Group as a vice president, Legal and Business Affairs.

2002

• Liane Higgins (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Diageo Beer Company USA as a director, National Convenience Channel (Secondment).