In the News

• Overtourism solutions: Putting the residents first: Travel Weekly (feat. Simon Hudson)
• More concerts and big events at Williams-Brice could boost Columbia. But will they come?: The State (feat. Tom Regan)
• Why are car insurance prices so different from state to state?: WalletHub (feat. Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana)
• S.C. to try again on legalized online sports betting: Charleston City Paper (feat. Stephen Shapiro, also published in Statehouse Report)
• Missouri Sports Wagering Lawsuit Highlights Recent Betting News: The Lines (feat. Stephen Shapiro)
• Celtics Are Far From First Pro Sports Sale With Bezos ‘Buzz’: Front Office Sports (feat. Nick Watanabe)
• Is the term 'overtourism' being overused?: Travel Weekly and The Folo podcast) (feat. Simon Hudson)
• Why are so many fast-food chicken places flocking to Columbia?: Post and Courier (feat. Mike Watson)

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Faculty and Staff Notes

• Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana authored two case studies recently published in the 3rd edition of the textbook Global Sourcing in the Textile and Apparel Industry.
• Bill Sutton was named to the inaugural Sports Business Journal Honor Roll, recognizing academic leaders who have shaped the industry.
• Department of Sport and Entertainment Management faculty members Matt Brown, Khalid Ballouli, John Grady, Stephen Shapiro and Nick Watanabe and Ph.D. students Saad Alshamari, Deukmook Bae, Mateo Márquez Auza and Rodrigo Feller attended and presented research at the European Association for Sport Management Conference in Paris.

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Student Notes

• Jake Brown (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as a game day partnership services associate with the Carolina Panthers for the NFL season.
• Catherine Coleman (Sport and Entertainment Management) started an internship with Gamecock Sports Properties.
• Trevor Donnelly (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as associate coordinator, partnership services with Gamecock Sports Properties at Learfield.
• Colleen Dupre (Sport and Entertainment Management) worked  in the VIP Lounge with VIP Nation for the first of two Hootie and the Blowfish concerts at Colonial Life Arena, an opportunity made possible by Instructor Paul Graham, former tour manager for the band.
• Ethan Goldberg (Hospitality Management) started a new position as banquet bartender at Forest Lake Club.
• Kaileigh Hamilton (Tourism Management) started a new position as a SPUR at USC Housing.
• Jenna Heuer (Retailing) accepted a position as an executive in training with Academy Sports + Outdoors at their corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas after graduation in May. She was offered the position after interning with the company this summer.
• Samantha Hollobow (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a seasonal event staff position at Segra Park with the Columbia Fireflies.
• Ava Luongo (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a social media coordinator internship with Metro Vieve Magazine.
• William Sibley (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a marketing intern at Colonial Life Arena.
• Mariah Williams (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) started a fashion production and social media internship at Anton & Maxine.
• Carlos Zobel (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an internship with Elite Sports Agency.

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Alumni Notes

• Iyanna Alston-Hasselvander (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as assistant football video coordinator at Georgia State University.
• Lexie Bado (Hospitality Management, '23) started a new position as manager in training at Charlotte Country Club.
• Shelby Burnette (Sport and Entertainment Management, '20) started a new position as assistant AD, digital and integrated marketing at Wake Forest University.
• Charles Cavanagh (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) was promoted to Salt Lake City operations manager for Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC).
• Madison Cobb (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as associate account executive at Optomi.
• Catherine Connolly (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '24) started a new position as a buyers assistant with Shoe Carnival.
• Collin Goff (Sport and Entertainment Management, '21) started a new position as accelerated credit associate at Ferguson.
• AnneMarie (Fisher) Hamill (Sport and Entertainment Management, '15) started a new position as managing director at S.A.F.E. Management in Atlanta.
• Olivia Harrison (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) started a new position as community relations and foundation manager with the Texas Stars Hockey Club.
• Tyler Heath (Hospitality Management '21, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management '22) started a new position as sales coordinator at Signia by Hilton Atlanta.
• Alex Hotchkiss (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new position as business development representative with Trident.
• Xiaoan Huang (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as a sport management lecturer at the University of New Haven.
• Madeline Johnson (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as account executive at Taymar Sales U. She will be based in Charlotte and primarily focused on generating revenue for Carolina Ascent, Charlotte’s only professional women’s team.
• Hannah Kalcic (Sport and Entertainment Management, '20) launched a new business, Black Cat Coffee Co. in Charlotte.
• Kassidy Krupit (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) is returning home to USC to start a new position as director of player development and analytics for Gamecocks Softball.
• Danielle Kunin (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '23) accepted a new position as a retail buying administrative assistant with the Atlanta Braves.
• Christian Lodde (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) started a new position as front of house staff at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
• Alexia Lopes (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) started a new position as assistant teaching professor at David B. Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics at Syracuse University.
• Quinn Martin (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as a Northeast scouting intern at Prospect Select Baseball.
• Sean McCabe (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) was promoted to associate manager at Tristate Financial Advisors.
• Anna Mealer (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '23) started a new position as a merchandise coordinator on the Etsy Global team.
• Somang Min (Ph.D. Hospitality Management, '24) started a new position as a postdoctoral researcher in the New Mexico State University Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management.
• Colleen Mitchell (Sport and Entertainment Management, '18) accepted a new position as manager of life skills and education with the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Ryan McGowan (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) started a new position as account executive, group events with the New Jersey Devils.
• Blake Oliver (Hospitality Management, '24) started a new position as assistant general manager at Truffles Cafe in Hilton Head.
• Jiayao Qi (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as a clinical assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington.
• Julia Rothman (Retailing - Retail Management, '24) started a new position as allocation analyst with Burlington Stores at the company’s corporate headquarters in New Jersey.
• Kelly Sullivan (Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) started a new position as national sales account manager at the E.W. Scripps Company in Washington, D.C.
• Kip Vogel (Sport and Entertainment Management '17, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management '19) started a new position as director of event operations and facilities at College of Charleston.
• Stephanie Weissenburger (Sport and Entertainment Management, '17) started a new position as associate counsel at Excel Sports Management.
• Carlo White (Hospitality Management, '24) started a new position as a sales development representative with Oracle NetSuite.
• Tessa Wilson (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '23) was accepted into the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) and will be starting a new position as an assistant English teacher in Almería, Spain this October.
• Xiaonan Zhang (Ph.D. Hospitality Management, '24) started a new position as assistant professor of tourism, hospitality and event management at Beijing Normal University – Hong Kong Baptist University United International College.