Why did you want to pursue a Master of Sport Management (MSM) degree?
Sport has been something I have been doing right from childhood and it has positively changed my life. Pursuing a degree in MSM was to gain more knowledge, experience, expertise and understanding of the sports industry from different perspectives and how best to apply the best approach to proactively solving problems.
How did you find out about CSU’s program?
I was recruited for a college basketball opportunity by Coach Amber Cunningham and Ryun Williams, CSU women’s basketball coaches. They shared beautiful stories about CSU which helped me confidently choose CSU.
What are your career goals? (and how does the MSM fit into those?)
My goal is to work in college sport and extend it to professional sport and the Olympics. I enjoy making an impact and creating a path where sport is enjoyable and safe for athletes and all stakeholders. The MSM had already prepared me for that journey.
Talk about your experience in the program in general. What have been some of the benefits?
As a student-athlete, being able to combine sport and education is a huge task because you have to meet the demands of your coach and your instructor. I believe that every instructor I had was very understanding and flexible. They understand how school and sport can be overwhelming, which I thought made the program doable.
I enjoy the fact that most of the learning I had was based on real-life experiences, everyday issues, and how different ideas and perspectives put together can solve issues.
What is your favorite class in the MSM program?
I would say Risk Management in Sport. This class was eye-opening because it exposes you to what dangers and negligence in sports looks like with real-life examples. From the management perspective, you have to be proactive in creating a safe space where athletes, coaches, administrators can carry out their daily duties successfully without harm. The sports industry has a built-in risk, so most times, we don’t realize how dangerous and disastrous it can be if we are not proactively thinking forward to solving problems rapidly.
How did your internship increase your skills in Sport Management?
I had two internships. One of the internships was with CSU Athletics, where I learned how to use some software that collates data about community engagement and participation. The second internship was with CSU women’s basketball team as a graduate assistant. I learned how organization, collaboration, leadership, and communication are very important in setting up a team for success. There’s so much planning and execution on the backend of sport administration.
What would you tell others who are considering a MSM?
The program is doable. Don’t be scared. Be ready to communicate your needs to your instructors because they are flexible and ready to set you up for success.
How did your experience in the MSM program affect your future education or career goals?
One of my goals is to be a sports administrator in operations or events. I enjoy doing background work that sets up a team and organization for success. The MSM program allowed me the opportunity to have diverse experiences in the areas of marketing, operations, coaching, ticketing, operations, finance etc. My job search isn’t tailored to only sports administration but other areas, too, because my degree created a path and confidence to explore other areas.
To learn more about the Master of Sport Management program, please visit msm.colostate.edu.
