Skip to Content

College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Headshots of Brynn Atlas, Natasha Brison, Skylar Deichmann and Chris Woodard featured in HRSM April 2026 News and Notes highlighting student and alumni achievements

April 2026 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: April 6, 2026; Updated on: April 6, 2026
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty and Staff Notes

  • Collin Crick was the keynote speaker for the South Carolina Regional Career Specialists conference, Destination Success: Careers in Hospitality, Events and Tourism, held at the Conway Campus of Horry Georgetown Technical College.
  • Terry (Haekyung) Kim’s paper, "Beyond transparency: Moderating roles of personalization and need for cognition in explainable AI (XAI) recommendations and perceived fairness," received the 2026 American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA) Conference Best Paper Award at the ACRA Conference in Pomona, CA.
  • Marketa Kubickova and co-author Swechchha Subedi (Ph. D., Hospitality and Tourism Management, ‘24) were runners-up for Best Research Paper at the annual SECSA CHRIE Conference.
  • Taylor Ramp presented at USC AI Day on  AI for Faculty: Increasing Efficiency, Engagement & Accessibility in Content and Lectures and AI for Students: Personal Brand & Employability.
  • Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana has begun teaching fundamentals of textiles to students in his Global Sourcing class in the Department of Retailing, using swatches and samples provided by Cotton Incorporated as part of HRSM’s ongoing “Cotton in the Curriculum” grant-funded project.
  • Stephanie Richards was elected to the 2026-2027 USC Staff Senate Executive Committee as parliamentarian.
  • Armen Shaomian’s “Sportainment in Mexico City” class became the first undergraduate group to visit the newly inaugurated Benjamin Franklin Center at the brand-new U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. The group met with diplomats from the Public Diplomacy Section and discussed trilateral collaboration surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 250th Anniversary of U.S. independence, sports diplomacy, and career pathways in the Foreign Service.

Student Notes

  • Meredith Aase, Augie Jansen, Scott Senkowski and Jerrell Thompson served as student interns at the Hunter Conference in Atlanta.
  • Ana Luiza Abras (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as a graphic designer with Greenville Triumph SC.
  • Saad Al Shamari (Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D.) successfully defended his dissertation. Stephen Shapiro served as his advisor and Khalid Ballouli, Andy Gillentine and Kamilla Swart-Arries of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) as committee members.
  • Kate Arey (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation this summer as the client services & championship events assistant intern.
  • Brynn Atlas (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a sales internship with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Tonazia Benson (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) will be joining Belk this summer as an intern, working on the Belk x Sewing Down South collaboration in Charleston.
  • Kaitlyn Boyle and Samanatha Mergl (Sport and Entertainment Management) were accepted into the 2026 Legends Global Training Camp.
  • Sophie Burkett, Morgan Collazo, Morgan Mayer, Josh Baniewicz, Keely Aquilini, and Sean Fulton (all Master of Sport and Entertainment Management), coached by Todd Koesters, represented HRSM in the Case Cup competition at the National Sports Forum.
  • Emily Burton (Hospitality Management) will be starting an internship this summer with Hall’s Chophouse in Nexton, SC. Emily will also be serving as president of the Restaurant & Lodging Association at USC for the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Lauren Cole (Master of Retail Innovation) successfully defended her thesis. Jung-Hwan Kim served as her thesis advisor, and Joohyung Park, Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana and Terry Kim as committee members.
  • Morgan Collazzo (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) worked the first rounds of March Madness at Colonial Life Arena as part of the host staff.
  • Regan Dowdy and Mariam Rezkalla (both Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) helped plan and execute Anton & Maxine's Spring/Summer '26 presentation, En-Cloth-Sure No.2.
  • Sadie Ebenstein (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) will be joining J.Crew this summer as an intern on the Factory Merchandising Team in New York City.
  • Amanda Edwards (Sport and Entertainment Management) will work as an admissions ambassador at this year's U.S Open in Southampton, NY.
  • Lauren Frasier-Jeffries (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining FanGate Solutions this baseball season as a full-time intern. She will not only work with the Charlotte Knights, but also travel across the U.S. supporting major events including IndyCar races, the Kentucky Derby, NASCAR races, festivals, and more.
  • Emily George (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a full-time role as a new business consultant with the Arizona Diamondbacks, to begin after graduation in May.
  • Danel Goering (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Frederick Keys as a box office intern for the summer.
  • Quinn Grimes (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining Hogan Lax as an operations intern this summer.
  • Blake Hagwood (Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D.) was featured in the USC Veterans and Military Services monthly newsletter.
  • Nathaniel Harris (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a role with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Pittsburgh Riveters as a rotational associate.
  • Finley Haynie (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) launched her boutique, Finley J, now available in-store at Partager in Columbia.
  • Alexander Herrington (Hospitality Management) accepted a food and beverage leader in development position with Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa to begin after graduation in May.
  • Kaleb Holm (Hospitality Management) will be spending this summer in Jackson, Wyoming as a club operations intern at The Club at 3 Creek.
  • Jess Holzman (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management), Ally Loss, Jack Travis, Finn Twomey and Charlotte Waxvik (all Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted inside sales representative positions with the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets made 10 new hires for their sales team, half of them HRSM students.
  • Moxley Homan (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer work experience with the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour as a hospitality sales intern.
  • Hannah Hoppe (Hospitality Management) will be joining The Walt Disney World Company in Orlando for their Disney College Program starting in August.
  • Julia Iredale (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a position with Peter Millar as a merchandising & planning intern in their Raleigh-Durham office.
  • Jemyah Jones (Hospitality Management) started a serving position at The Epicurean Table. This farm to table, Black-owned restaurant in Hopkins, South Carolina is the only sit-down restaurant in the area.
  • Georgia Kendall (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a ticket sales and service internship with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  • Cassandra Lane (Hospitality Management) will be returning to USC after graduation to continue her education in HRSM’s Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management accelerated program.
  • Christian Maglione (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as a membership associate with the Atlanta Hawks.
  • Morgan Melillo (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining THE·TEAM (formerly Wasserman) as a brands & properties, strategy & consulting intern for summer 2026 in New York City.
  • Kiran Mruthyunjaya (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a rotational internship with Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Florida for this summer.
  • Zoe Mullins (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) planned and hosted the inaugural alumni leadership and career panel as vice president of professional activities for business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi - Beta Gamma Chapter.
  • Chase Naughton (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as the concessions assistant manager for the Columbia Fireflies.
  • Jackson Nazzaro (Hospitality Management) accepted a rotational food & beverage internship at Ansley Golf Club for this summer.
  • Alexandra Newton (Hospitality Management) accepted a hospitality internship with Annapolis Yacht Club for this summer.
  • Kason Pippin (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as an operations intern for Peak Events.
  • Griffin Price (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Colonial Life Arena Events Department.
  • Alyse Puccio (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be spending her summer as a game day presentation intern for the Connecticut Sun.
  • Alejandro Salguedo (Sport and Entertainment Management and Hospitality Management) will be headed to Dallas after graduation in May to join the Preston Trail Golf Club team as a rotational hospitality intern.
  • Dominic Scaffidi (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an internship for this summer with EchoPark Speedway.
  • Emily Silvaggio (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) will be working the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh as an On Location ambassador. Emily also began a new role as treasurer for the USC Graduate Student Association.
  • Elle Sherin (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with Maxx MGMT.
  • Emily Skinner (Tourism Management) will continue her education at Rutgers University this fall, pursuing an MBA.
  • Madelyn Skinner (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as a rookie intern for the Springfield (Illinois) Lucky Horseshoes for this summer.
  • Juston Slate (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the American Junior Golf Association as a traveling operations intern for this summer.
  • Zachary Snelgrove (Hospitality Management) accepted a housekeeping and hotel operations internship at Yellowstone National Park through Xanterra Travel Collection for this summer.
  • Erin Thompson (Retailing - Retail Management) will be joining Belk this summer as an intern, working on the Belk x Sewing Down South collaboration in Charleston.
  • Sani’a Tucker (Retailing - Retail Management) earned the No. 2 sales ranking within the Michael Kors store where she works.
  • Brooke Ufland (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be interning with the Boston College football program this summer, working in on-campus recruiting.
  • Carys Waddington (Hospitality Management) and Sydney Lynch (Tourism Management) presented research at the Eta Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Symposium in Boston.
  • Gabrielle Walters (Tourism Management) accepted an externship with the Alotian Club, one of the nation’s top private clubs, to begin after graduation in May.
  • Kelly Walz (Tourism Management) has been accepted into the Disney College Program for Fall 2026.
  • Lauren Williams (Sport and Entertainment Management) worked at the South Carolina High School League - SCHSL Class 5A-D1 Girls Basketball Upper State Championship and the Class 1A Boys Basketball Upper State Championship.
  • Keegan Wipff (Hospitality Management) will be working with Seabrook Island Club as a food & beverage intern this summer.
  • Christopher Woodard (Tourism Management) served as an Alternative Break Trip Leader through USC's Leadership and Service Center, leading a multi-city service experience over Spring Break in Jacksonville, Savannah, and St. Augustine centered on leadership, reflection, and impact.
  • Joseph Zapp (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the Cleveland Guardians as a seasonal fan services team member.

Alumni Notes

  • Zach Bendheim (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘24) started a new role as a sales administrator at Dynamic Brands.
  • Karina Black (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘24) started a new role as an Account Executive with the Gamecock Club at USC.
  • Noemi Cannella (Retailing, ‘24) was promoted to interim assistant store manager with Gorjana Southport.
  • Ashley Cantatore (Hospitality Management, ‘16) was named one of the 2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 honorees by Leadership Center of Arlington and Leadership Fairfax.
  • Annabelle Carter (Retailing - Retail Management with a minor in Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25)  joined iHeartMedia Charlotte as an outside sales account executive.
  • Skylar Deichmann (Sport and Entertainment Management '22, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management '23) was promoted to director of corporate partnerships for the Allen Americans.
  • Riley Duggan (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) started a new role as a small group journeys sales assistant with Abercrombie & Kent USA.
  • Cathy Jansen (Interdisciplinary Studies, ‘01) and Erinn Rowe (Hospitality Management, 99) were included in the SC Biz Top 100 Women list for 2026.
  • Lauryn Kita (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) accepted into the Master of Science in Sport Management program at Southern Methodist University.
  • Parker Knight (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) started a new role as a golf operations intern at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
  • Bella Larson (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) was promoted to deputy director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism for the Town of Surf City, SC.
  • Julia Latham (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘25) joined Khepri Jewels as junior account manager – wholesale & retail.
  • Caroline Murray (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘20) was promoted to senior analyst, digital brand advocate at Lowe's.
  • Piper Phillips (Retailing, ‘24) was promoted to assistant buyer on the Ladies Modern & Contemporary Shoes team at Belk.
  • Rorie Pyle (Tourism Management, ‘24) graduated with a master’s in hospitality management from EHL Hospitality Business School.
  • Allie Rombone (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) accepted a new position as an account coordinator at Horizon Sports & Experiences.
  • Ashlyn Simokat (Hospitality Management, ‘25) started a new position as premium club associate with the Charleston RiverDogs.
  • Brelyn Strickland (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘25) was promoted to store manager at fab'rik Augusta.
  • Kellie Taylor (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management '22, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) started a new position in travel operations with Indagare.
  • Blake Toomer (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘19) started a new role with the Portland Fire as an account executive, premium sales.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©