College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

2017 News Archive

Master of His Field: Paul Graham adds a master's degree to a successful career spanning four decades

When Hootie & the Blowfish became the hottest band in the world, Paul Graham, a 1989 graduate of the University of South Carolina, was one of the people behind the scenes helping fans enjoy the music as the band’s tour manager. When the group launched Monday After the Masters, a celebrity pro-am golf tournament to raise money for charity, they called on Graham to serve as tournament director.

Comeback win: Former Gamecock pitcher returns to graduate

It’s been 13 years since Billy Buckner played baseball for the University of South Carolina, memorably striking out 16 batters one afternoon against Clemson and winning seven games in the 2004 season.

Dean’s quarterly update December 2017

Finals are underway and winter break is on the horizon, so I'd like to take a moment to wish you and your family a very happy, healthy, and festive holiday season. As we prepare to celebrate the commencement of our Fall 2017 graduates next week, I also want to say thank you to our faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and parents for the difference you have made this year in the lives of our students and the future of our fields.

Brown wins national distinguished service award for sport management

Professor Matt Brown, chair of the University of South Carolina's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, has been selected to receive The North American Society for Sport Management's (NASSM) highest service honor.

The game before the game: HRSM professor leads the way in research as tailgating grows from a grassroots movement to a gigantic industry

For college football fans in Columbia and across the country, tailgating has become a tradition as ingrained in the fall Saturday experience as what happens inside the stadium.

No. 1! UofSC sport science programs top national rankings

The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the second year in a row, and No. 4 in the world by ShanghaiRanking's 2017 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.

Walking the red carpet

The biggest stars in country music gathered in Nashville Nov. 8 for the 51st CMA Awards, and University of South Carolina students had an opportunity to be part of the star-studded event.

UofSC alumna launches line of stadium-friendly styles

The words regulation and stadium-approved don't exactly scream inspiration and style, but Jennifer Ugland's love for football and fashion helped her flip the script and serve a need for female fans.

It’s about to get personal—The future of retail technology: health data, hyper-personalized purchasing

Imagine going shopping and having your phone or fitness tracker make product recommendations for you based on your breath or the current physical state of your body. It is not science fiction. It’s the future of retailing and health care digitization according to researchers at University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.

SPTE Around the World

The month of November has been a busy one for the Sport and Entertainment Management Department, beginning with faculty, staff and students scattering across the globe to present research at three major conferences.

Alison Lindsey wins SC Tourism Student Award

University of South Carolina student Alison Lindsey has been recognized by the South Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition for her exemplary academic achievement related to hospitality and tourism in South Carolina. Nominated by her faculty, Lindsey was one of nine college students from across the state to receive a 2017 Tourism Student Award at a ceremony at the Lace House in Columbia on October 30, 2017.

A Conversation with Ron Shapiro

Known as one of the most powerful people in sports and one of baseball's most respected agent-attorneys, Ron Shapiro presented at University of South Carolina on November 1, 2017. The free event was part of the Thomas H. Regan Executive Sport Seminar presented by UofSC's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and sponsored by NASCAR. Shapiro spoke to the packed auditorium about the state of the industry today and shared stories from his 40+ years in the industry.

HRSM Awards 2017 Distinguished Alumni and Friends

As Columbia filled with Gamecock alumni returning for Homecoming weekend, the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management recognized the winners of the HRSM 2017 Distinguished Alumni and Friends Awards.

Remembering Charlie Boswell

The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management family mourns the passing of Charles Boswell. Charles, known as Charlie to his many friends, passed away Sept. 12 at the age of 71. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from the University of South Carolina. After beginning his career as a hotel manager, he returned to his alma mater to teach and went on to become assistant chairman of UofSC's School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, where he served as an instructor and student advisor for 25 years before retiring.

Gamecocks in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands have stirred the imagination of the Western world since they were discovered quite by accident in 1535. Herman Melville wrote about them. Charles Darwin visited to study the wide variety of animals found only there. Now, University of South Carolina students can visit and learn some of the many lessons the land has to offer, thanks to a Maymester study abroad program which includes four cross-disciplinary courses.

Grady Wins UofSC Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students Award

John Grady rarely has first-year students in the classes he teaches at the University of South Carolina. However, he has built a legacy of first-year impressions by going out of his way to be involved with those who are new to the Gamecock community.

Fashion forward

As part of the career enrichment program between the University's Trademark and Licensing and IMG College Licensing, two HRSM Gamecocks were able to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the fashion business on a once in a lifetime trip to New York City with VIP access to the country's premier fashion event.

Dean's quarterly update September 2017

With the start of the new school year, the energy on campus has been inspiring and enthusiastic as University of South Carolina welcomed its largest freshman class ever. The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management played a big part in the record breaking, with more than 700 new students - adding up to our largest total class size to date of more than 2,300 students.

HRSM new hires, promotions and retirements

The following individuals have recently joined the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.

4th Annual International Hospitality and Tourism Academy

The International Hospitality and Tourism Academy is an experiential learning program for international students hosted by USC's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM). Now in its fourth year, the program attracted students from as far away as China and Colombia, who earned certificates by completing courses in event management and planning, revenue and resort management and hospitality leadership.

What to buy: Mapping the multisensory consumer experience

Whether shopping online or in a store, what a consumer sees, hears, smells and feels all combines to play a complex role in their purchasing decisions. A University of South Carolina retailing professor is working to map out this decision making process and advance continued innovation in the rapidly evolving world of consumer science.

2017 HRSM Homecoming Party is Friday October 27

HRSM Homecoming is the party of the year and we look forward to welcoming all our alumni back to the Historic Horseshoe for food, fun and fellowship.

Top of his game: UofSC alumnus leads club hosting PGA Championship

An alumnus of the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, DeLozier’s passion for hospitality, impeccable standards and insatiable work ethic have helped him prepare to lead his team in one of the golf world’s brightest spotlights.

Major opportunity

Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte will host the 99th PGA Championship Aug. 10-13, and from the top down, alumni and students from the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management will play a key role in putting on the tournament.

Congratulations to College of HRSM students who made the spring 2017 Dean's and President's Lists

Congratulations to the following HRSM students who made the spring 2017 Dean's and President's Lists. The Dean's List recognizes undergraduate students with a grade point average of 3.50 or higher (3.25 or higher for freshmen) earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours. The President's List recognizes undergraduate students with a grade point average of 4.00 earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours.

USC hires former Carolina Panthers president as sport management professor

July 24, 2017 — Columbia, S.C. - Former Carolina Panthers President Danny Morrison is joining University of South Carolina as a professor of practice in USC's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. Morrison, who holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from USC, will begin his new role as a faculty member in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management on August 16.

Department of Retailing announces Mark Rosenbaum as new chair

University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) is proud to welcome Mark Rosenbaum, Ph.D. as the new chair of its Department of Retailing. Rosenbaum will begin his new role on July 17, 2017 and will be responsible for leading all academic and research initiatives for the department.

Exploring the Czech Republic

Adventurous travelers love to ask, "Where do the locals go?" A group of students from University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management found the answer to the question on a unique Maymester tour of the Czech Republic with Czech native and USC professor Marketa Kubickova.

Remembering Sej Harman

Sej Harman served University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) as an invaluable employee for 35 years - leading the college forward from behind the scenes and making life-long friendships along the way.

Dean’s quarterly update May 2017

Summer is on the way and HRSM recently celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2017. As our newest alumni begin their careers, I’m filled with pride for our wonderful college and the legacy that we are all building together through education, research and industry partnerships.

2017 HRSM faculty, staff and student awards

The University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) is proud to recognize its 2016-2017 faculty, staff and student award recipients.

Ph.D. takes USC grad from down South to Down Under

An education at the University of South Carolina can open doors anywhere in the world, as Henry Wear knows firsthand. Wear will formally receive his Ph.D. in sport and entertainment management in May, but his work at South Carolina has already earned him his first postdoctoral position, as a lecturer in the sport management program at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

Susan O'Malley: Shattering the glass ceiling in sport management

What if you were told your career dreams were unrealistic because you were a girl? If your name is Susan O'Malley, you would shrug it off and go on to become the first, and very successful, female president of a professional sports franchise.

Survivor

Fellow classmates might know Maddy Pease as a friendly face, a lacrosse player, a traveler, a retailing major, the winner of the 2017 Fashion Board Design Challenge or a senior graduating with leadership distinction. What they might not know is that she accomplished all of that while quietly battling cancer.

Drew Martin named director for School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

The University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is proud to welcome Drew Martin, Ph.D. as the new director of its School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. Martin will begin his new role on July 1, 2017 and will be responsible for leading all academic and research initiatives for the department.

Rising above the odds

Growing up in the small rural town of Estill, South Carolina, Aleisha Gray has always been aware of the statement numbers can make. One stoplight. Population 2,025. Less than 100 students in your graduating class. “The schools I attended from K-12 were ranked lowest among the nation’s worst districts and considered to be in ‘The Corridor of Shame’ – a severely neglected region of impoverished education districts,” said Gray. When faced with those odds, it might be easy to set your sights low or make excuses if life gets hard. But Gray did neither of those things.

Mission complete

As a military veteran, husband and father, Reggie Regester's walk across the graduation stage has taken longer to get to than some students. But on May 5 he will leave the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies and the satisfaction of knowing his academic mission is complete.

Marching to her own beat

Sarah Brinks' college life started with a clarinet and a pressure-packed audition. That moment set the stage for an academic career marked by the willingness to take on new challenges and embrace the unexpected--a theme that shows no signs of stopping as Brinks takes the next step on her career journey.

Gone Hollywood: HRSM alumnus lands dream job

Three years ago, Brandon Davis was an HRSM student. Now, he travels the world, spending much of his time on television show sets and at movie premieres. He says the career would not have been possible without the lessons learned here.

20 years of SEVT: Conference marks milestone

The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management hosted the 20th SEVT conference March 22-24.

Star students invited to International Hoteliers Summit in Switzerland

Spring break opportunities took students from the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) all over the world, including two students who were selected to attend the eighth annual Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

New student club providing clothing to the community

Not knowing what to wear is an everyday hassle that many people can relate to. But having truly nothing to wear is a very real issue with much bigger implications. Cocky Couture is a new student organization at University of South Carolina that aims to make a difference in the lives of Columbia families through fashion.

Making Money III: Marketing, Development, and Audience Surveying with Purpose

The S.C. Arts Commission is again partnering with USC's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management to offer Making Money III! This highly successful seminar is geared towards non-profit and for-profit arts and entertainment organizations. Whether you are an executive director, a board member, work in marketing, or in development, this seminar is for you!

HRSM congratulates fall 2016 honors list students

Congratulations to the students who made the fall 2016 Dean's and President's Lists.

Andy Gillentine earns lifetime achievement award

Andy Gillentine, professor and associate dean at University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the, joined a very distinguished list of winners as he received the Sport Management Lifetime Achievement Award from the Applied Sport Management Association. The award, established in 2008, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the academic field of sport management.

Alumnus builds entrepreneurial success on foundation set at USC

A great many things have changed since Charles Aiken graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1976. Still, Aiken is a proud Gamecock and says the lessons learned in those days have served him well. "I think my years there at the university helped prepare me, though I didn't know for exactly what," he said. "It is the education, it is the confidence that comes with feeling like 'Just give me a chance and let me show you what I can do.'"

Classroom mentorship gives life lessons to students

It is not easy to get Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds to talk about himself. It is incredibly easy to get others to talk about him as a humble teacher and leader who has made an impact on their lives.

Change-maker: Tragedy turns to inspiration for USC student

"My life just kind of did a 360. Not everybody gets those types of chances. I took advantage of the opportunity that came my way."

Wine, Beverage and Culture online class being offered

A class on alcoholic beverages? It might sound like a party, but it's a new online class at The University of South Carolina that studies the history, culture, religion and agriculture behind wine and other beverages. Wine, Beverage and Culture (HRTM 590J) is being offered as a two-week online class for the first time Maymester 2017 and is open to all USC students.

Alumna leads Georgia Dome through incredible week

Millions of football fans watched from all over the world Jan. 15 as Dallas Green Bay battled in a nerve-wracking playoff game. A field goal on the final play meant celebration for the Packers and their fans, and despair for the Cowboys' side. For University of South Carolina alumna Tamlyn Horne, it meant it was time to go to work.

iIT scheduled to move from HRSM to College of Engineering and Computing

This summer, the University of South Carolina’s Department of Integrated Information Technology (iIT) will be moving from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) to the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). While iIT has a long and proud history with HRSM, this is a thoughtful and positive move for the department that will best align its continued enrollment growth with the future of the industry.

HRSM Ph.D. students excel at national conference

A group of HRSM graduate students and faculty spent part of their winter break at a national conference in Houston, and gave us all reason to be proud of them.

HRSM master's program grads earn jobs at elite golf club

For two newly minted College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management alumni, 2017 is looking even better with the beginning of life in the real world working side by side at one of the country's most exclusive golf clubs.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.