2023 News Archive

Congratulations, HRSM Class of 2023 December Graduates

The University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management congratulates all members of the December 2023 graduation class!

Class of 2023 December graduate spotlight: Henry Adam Caver

Henry Adam Caver is part of the MBA / Master of Sport and Entertainment Management program and did a three-month internship as the country manager at sport finance startup Fan Owned Club in the Austrian Alps at FC Pinzgau Saalfelden.

December 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Sarah-Jane Andersen started a new position with EmuBands in Scotland, Elijah Neal got a job with Retail Sports Marketing, Haley Lynch accepted a position with BetMGM, and College of HRSM director of enrollment management and professional development Collin Crick was selected for USC's Pipeline for Academy Leaders (PAL) fellowship program.

Harvest Hope CEO Erinn Rowe brings business solutions to food insecurity

When Erinn Rowe first arrived at Harvest Hope’s headquarters on Columbia’s Shop Road, the new CEO turned her desk to face the window for a view of the on-site food pantry. Seeing the community’s need firsthand can be difficult, but for Rowe, it’s a necessary reminder of why her work matters.

USC sport and entertainment management Ph.D. student named SEC Emerging Scholar

Now in his third year as a Ph.D. student, Kemardo Tyrell has become the first student from USC's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management to be named an SEC Emerging Scholar.

School of Hospitality and Tourism Management launches search for top leadership position

The University of South Carolina is searching for the next director of its School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The selected candidate will take the helm of a dynamic academic unit comprised of four degree programs, four research centers and institutes, an on-campus restaurant and event venue, 32 full-time faculty and staff and nearly 600 students.

How USC's Apple Authorized Campus Store is expanding student opportunities

As a retailing major at the University of South Carolina, Emili Revis' passions are coming together through an internship opportunity with the USC Apple® Authorized Campus Store, Gamecock iHub. The experience is bringing lessons to life and opening new doors for her career.

November 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Alumna Silvia Chinellato earned her first win as a collegiate head tennis coach, student Jackson Owings accepted a position at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa after his graduation next month, alumna Kellie Taylor started a new position with BSE Global, and assistant professor Yongjin Hwang co-authored an article published in the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship.

Apply to win an experiential learning trip to New York Fashion Week

Two University of South Carolina Department of Retailing students will receive scholarships to travel to New York City and attend New York Fashion Week events over Feb. 8-11, 2024.

SPTE alumni golfers Wesley and George Bryan IV tee off on a brand new game

Wesley and George Bryan IV — the Bryan Bros, as they’re known on social media — have come a long way since their days as standouts on the Gamecock golf team. Earlier this year, they purchased West Columbia's dilapidated Indian River Golf Course and plan to turn the long-vacant property into a private course and state-of-the-art golf academy.

Opening doors for the next generation

Danny Morrison, former president of the Carolina Panthers and a sport management professor at USC, draws on his long career in athletics to inspire and educate the next generation of sport professionals.

October 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Alumnus Jarett Gerald started a new position as director of revenue strategy at Duke University, students Caroline Aase and Grace Hutton represented the College of HRSM at the 35th annual International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) conference, and alumna Jana Medlin earned the 2023 Community Service award for the Wingate Inn by Wyndham.

College of HRSM students represent USC at New York Fashion Week

Three students from the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management received a free trip to New York Fashion Week along with behind-the-scenes access and an education immersion in the world of fashion.

USC College of HRSM student wins Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence

University of South Carolina student Meghan Penske has won the Statler Foundation's $25,000 Scholarship of Excellence. This is the fifth consecutive year that a student from USC's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has won the prestigious national award.

College of HRSM Dean's Executive Lecture Series Presents Sheila Johnson and Craig Melvin on Oct. 4

Sheila Johnson has shattered barrier after barrier in becoming the first Black female billionaire, a co-owner of several pro sports teams and a leader in the tourism industry as founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. On Oct. 4, she will be at the University of South Carolina to talk about the book and her incredible life in a special interview discussion with Today Show Anchor and USC alumnus Craig Melvin.

Carolina Trustees Professorship Award: John Grady

As a professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, John Grady teaches sports law and risk management to undergraduates. At the graduate level, he teaches a doctoral seminar in sport and entertainment law and risk management. He excels as a classroom teacher and is a past winner of the Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Retail Week set for Sept. 25-29

The University of South Carolina's Department of Retailing is hosting its second annual Retail Week Sept. 25-29, with events scheduled each day for students, faculty and staff.

Gamecocks in green

Over the past 20 years, thousands of University of South Carolina students have been part of one of the greatest traditions in sport by working at the Masters Tournament. For students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, there is no better training ground to gain real-world professional experience than Augusta National Golf Club. But the opportunity is open to all majors.

Celebrating Sporty Jeralds

One of the most beloved faces in the history of the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is retiring after 14 years. Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds has stepped down from his full-time roles as a senior clinical instructor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and as assistant dean for diversity inclusion for the college. He will continue to teach part-time.

Career Spotlight with Nikki Crabtree Huber

HRSM alumna Nikki Crabtree Huber (tourism management, '14) is now legislative director for the Greenville (South Carolina) Chamber and Upstate Chamber Coalition. She took time to share how her experience at USC has impacted her life and career.

September 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Sport and entertainment management Ph.D. student Rodrigo Feller published got published in the International Journal of Event and Festival Management, alumna Meghan Keeler accepted a new position as a regional admissions representative with USC, and associate professor Kawon (Kathy) Kim published articles in two journals.

Meet the Dean: Q&A with College of HRSM Dean Michael Sagas

The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management welcomed Michael Sagas as its new dean on June 15, 2023. Sagas came to the University of South Carolina from the University of Florida, where he served as a professor of sport management and director of the Institute for Coaching Excellence in the Department of Sport Management.

Professor Stephen Shapiro among 2023 Garnet Apple Award winners

Professor Stephen Shapiro is among six faculty members across the USC campus to earn the prestigious Garnet Apple Award for 2023. Shapiro's teaching philosophy is based on social constructivism, emphasizing collaboration and knowledge development through interactions among peers.

Ralph Lauren Distribution Center site visit opportunity on Sept. 14

The Department of Retailing is offering 20 of its students the opportunity to visit the Ralph Lauren Distribution Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Calling All Students Interested in Working the 2024 Masters Tournament!

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management offers an unforgettable experiential learning opportunity each April by sending hundreds of students to Augusta, Georgia, to work the Masters Tournament. This opportunity is open to all USC students, but you must fill out our interest form to be considered.

College of HRSM Student Spotlight: Augusta Roach

Meet Augusta Roach, a retailing major with a concentration in fashion merchandising and digital innovations from Easley, South Carolina. Roach is a member of the USC Department of Retailing Student Advisory Board, USC Fashion Board, and president / co-founder of the student organization Carolina Girls Who Walk.

August 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Jessica Dong accepted a new position as regional assistant in the membership and commercial department at the World Travel and Tourism Council, Madeline Eisenlord accepted a new position as an inbound sales development representative with Flexport in Atlanta, and Mani Madala was chosen to receive the Ron Labinski Scholarship from the Stadium Managers Association.

Gamecocks of influence

With an undergraduate student population of more than 25,000, you can bet there are some prolific social media influencers roaming our historic campus living their best student lives. USC's social media team introduces you to five of them, and three come from the College of HRSM.

Sport management professor brings experience, network to USC students

Bill Sutton, a professor of practice in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, brings his half-century of experience and connections in the sports industry to students at USC.

Spring 2023 College of HRSM Honors List

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

July 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Gabrielle Brown began a new position as a guest services associate with the Atlanta Braves, Dylan Jacob started a new position as manager for regional sales with the Washington Capitals, and Alexandra Visconti was promoted to membership experience executive for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.

Big careers in the minor leagues

Students from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management are learning all about minor league baseball this summer at teams throughout the Southeast and beyond. Providing these hands-on opportunities is a priority for USC’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, which emphasizes real-world experience and career development alongside classroom instruction.

USC announces fourth cohort of Tepper Scholars

The University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is proud to welcome the newest cohort of Tepper Scholars. The four incoming freshmen will join the internationally acclaimed Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and its most prestigious scholarship program.

The happiest lunch on Earth

On the last Friday before the end of classes, USC TIMES invited three staff members to lunch at McCutchen House’s Garden Grill to discuss how our work lives change — or don’t change — over the summer. George Hendry, director of the McCutchen House and senior lecturer in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, shared his thoughts on troubleshooting through teamwork.

Danger, prestige and authenticity draw thrill-seekers to adventure tourism

The tragic news of the destruction of the Titan submersible has brought attention to the thrilling, dangerous and expensive world of extreme tourism. Researcher and professor Scott Smith who studies hospitality and tourism management, writes for The Conversation about adventure tourism and why more people are drawn to the experience.

COVID gave QR codes new life

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the hospitality and tourism industries in March 2020, businesses, particularly restaurants, encouraged customers to return, in part, by offering contactless menus. One key piece of that was the QR code — a technology created by a subsidiary of Toyota as a means of tracking its manufacturing processes.

New legislation on sports betting in North Carolina could impact Southern states

Sports gambling is now legal in North Carolina, and the effects could be felt in South Carolina too. University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Professor John Grady calls the new law "a seismic shift for gaming laws in the Carolinas."

An uneven field: Study explores the gendered dynamics of inspirational labor in sport

Tarlan Chahardovali, an assistant professor in the University of South Carolina’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, and Christopher McLeod, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, have developed the concept of inspirational labor as part of a study exploring the extra work that professional female athletes do for the future of their sports.

June 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Miriam Feng accepted a new position as finance voyager with Ritz-Carlton in Aruba, Jung-Hwan Kim published research in Telematics and Informatics, Nikki O'Brien accepted a promotion to senior director, promotions marketing with the Harlem Globetrotters, and Lindsey Zybrick was named to the International Association of Venue Managers Foundation's Class of 2023 30 Under 30!

Summer '23 Work Hard, Play Hard Photo Contest!

The #WorkHardPlayHard Photo Contest, hosted by the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, invites all University of South Carolina students, alumni, faculty and staff to enter their best pictures showing the moments and experiences that are making the summer of '23 memorable.

Career Spotlight with Will Brewster

HRSM alumnus Will Brewster overcame the challenges of graduating during the pandemic to land his dream job at Walt Disney World.

Exploring Italy: Food, Wine & Culture

The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management invites you to join our celebrity hosts, President Emeritus Harris Pastides and First-Lady Emerita Patricia Moore-Pastides, for an adventure in Italy exploring food, wine and culture!

Congratulations, HRSM Class of 2023 May Graduates

The University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management congratulates all members of the May 2023 graduation class!

May 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Armen Shaomian earned a 2023 Distinguished Research Service Award from the USC Office of the Vice President for Research, Elli Peltonen was promoted to director of ticket services with the Baltimore Ravens, and Liliann Pineda received the Continuing Excellence Award from USC's Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support!

Meet the Class of 2023: Alex Gallegos-Tinajero

Alex Gallegos-Tinajero of Spartanburg, S.C., is earning his degree in Sport and Entertainment Management. He plans to join the Peace Corps and serve as an educator in South America.

2023 College of HRSM faculty and staff awards

The University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is proud to announce the winners of its 2023 Faculty and Staff Awards. The winners were recognized at an awards ceremony on April 25 in front of their peers and colleagues.

Career Success for Class of 2023 Graduating Seniors

The University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is proud to celebrate the class of 2023, including this year's academic and leadership award winners.

April 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Marissa Bayer was promoted to director of marketing and fan experience with University of Cincinnati athletics, Riki Benninger started a new position as sales manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station, and Lauren McGraw accepted a position with Marriott International as a food and beverage voyager in Charlotte after graduation in May. It was another month of great news for the HRSM family!

2023 CSRI college sport research conference showcases studies on athlete advocacy

Advocacy for the rights of college athletes took center stage as a prominent research theme at the 2023 CSRI Conference on College Sport in Columbia, South Carolina, during March 22-24. Faculty, scholars and students from across the country shared innovative research and lively discussion on the biggest issues in collegiate athletics today.

Dash to the top: career spotlight with Jessica O'Neill

In just 10 years, Jessica O'Neill went from the classroom to the head of the table in the boardroom. The 2012 University of South Carolina graduate (B.S., sport and entertainment management) is now president of the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League and chief operating officer of the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.

Michael Sagas selected as new HRSM dean

Michael Sagas will take the helm at the university’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management on June 15. Sagas comes to South Carolina from the University of Florida, where he serves as a professor of sport management and director of the Institute for Coaching Excellence in the Department of Sport Management.

College of HRSM Student Spotlight: Jordyn Lewis

Jordyn Lewis is a third-year retailing student with a concentration in fashion merchandising and digital innovations. She won the Miss Gamecock pageant and will represent USC in the Miss South Carolina pageant this summer.

March 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Ph.D. student Rodrigo Feller was invited to be a panelist in the International Student-Athletes session at the NCAA Inclusion Forum, Katlyn Motz accepted a new position as an assistant fashion buyer at It's Fashion, and Aaron Henderson is now an agent with Klutch Sports Group LLC. These are just a few of the highlights in this month's edition of HRSM news and notes!

College of HRSM Student Spotlight: Kaeli Crews

Kaeli Crews, a senior sport and entertainment management major, is set to graduate in May. She's a team captain for the Gamecock beach volleyball team and will pursue her master's degree at Florida State University upon graduation.

Renowned entrepreneur Sheila Johnson returns for second semester as executive-in-residence

As a partner and vice chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, Sheila Johnson is the only African American woman with ownership in three professional sports teams: the WNBA’s Washington Mystics (for which she serves as the team’s president and managing partner), the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Fueling SC’s top industry

Tourism is the main driver of South Carolina’s economy, accounting for about 10 percent of jobs in the state and an estimated annual impact of $29 billion. The University of South Carolina helps keep this economic engine humming by preparing graduates of the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management to take on key roles in a variety of businesses and by helping those businesses adapt and grow.

Fall 2022 HRSM Honors List

Congratulations to all of the HRSM students who made the fall 2022 Dean's and President's Lists.

February 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Madison Butler accepted a guest experience internship with the Miami Dolphins for the summer of 2023, Shalonda Goins was promoted to region manager with Waffle House, and John Thomas was named to Morgan Stanley's prestigious Pacesetter's Club. These are just a few of the highlights in this month's edition of HRSM news and notes!

College of HRSM Student Spotlight: Sharif Crosland

Finding your niche is a crucial part of growing up, and sometimes it takes you in unexpected directions. Sharif Crosland came to South Carolina planning to pursue a career in music education, but he found a better fit for his passion for service, specifically in the food and beverage side of hospitality management.

HRSM in NYC: Retailing students, faculty and staff attend national conference

An education at the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is never limited to just classrooms and campus. The latest opportunity for real-world experience came in January, as a group of Department of Retailing students visited New York City.

January 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Assistant Professor Tarlan Chahardovali and a colleague from the University of Florida published research in the Sociology of Sport Journal, alumnus Eric Bischofberger is now director of operations at Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, and student Olivia Ballweg accepted an operations internship with Sporting Kansas City. These are just a few of the highlights in this month's edition of HRSM news and notes!

College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management