For the second year in a row, the university's Career Expo for Sports Management majors allowed students to interact with representatives from dozens of companies and organizations, including several alumni. This was a great way for students to network while exploring career and internship opportunities.
May 1, 2024
Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications
Students connected with Sportsplex representatives.
Jake Romeo ’25, ’26 MS recently attended his first career fair as a Charger. Not only was it a great networking opportunity for him, but it was also an event specific to his major, sports management.
More than 50 students interacted with industry leaders as part of the university's second annual Sports Management Career Expo. This was a great way for them to learn about careers and internship opportunities.
“This is a good leg and a way to get my name out there,” Romao said. “I came looking for an opportunity. Holding a career fair for sports management means a lot. It shows how much we have grown as a field and reflects the opportunities for the future. Masu.”
“A great way to learn about what's out there”
The students spoke with representatives from more than 20 employers, including the Bridgeport Islanders professional hockey team. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven. and Yale University.
David Ramirez ’24, who will soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sports management, was excited to see what the Career Expo had to offer. He already has a job with First Tee of Connecticut, a golf-focused youth development organization, but he enjoyed last year's event so much that he wanted to explore networking opportunities at this year's expo. I was thinking of doing it.
“I really enjoyed meeting people from different sides of the industry last year,” he said. “It's a great way to learn what's out there.”
“The first place you go to hire.”
Many of the industry professionals meeting with the students proudly wore “alumni” stickers. Among them was Christine Huber '00, general manager of CFC Arena in Hamden, Conn. She was excited to see many familiar faces, including professors and students, at the expo.
“As a college graduate, this is my first place of employment,” she said. “The university is one of the top sports management programs in the country, and students gain more knowledge and real-life experience.”
The event was one of several key field-specific career expos hosted by the university's Career Development Center this semester, including a recent event focused on opportunities in the field of criminal justice .
Employer Relations Manager Baki Izzat said the number of participants at the Sports Management Expo was very large compared to the size of the program. She says these career fairs are the result of significant collaboration with faculty and create great opportunities for students.
“We are able to host events like this because of the outstanding faculty at the university who highlight the work of our office and what we offer our students, and encourage them to participate in our events. Thank you,” she said. With the support of JW Stewart and Derek Smith from the Sports Management and Esports and Gaming programs here, we look forward to expanding the event even further next year and providing new internship and job opportunities for our students. ”
“The opportunity is nothing short of amazing.”
This year's Career Expo included esports and gaming for the first time. Lydia Pfister, assistant commissioner and director of esports for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), enjoyed meeting with the Chargers. She was excited to meet so many students who are passionate about her sport.
“They came in very interested and it was like a quickie!” she said. “I was very happy to see so much interest. It’s great that schools have esports programs and dedicated esports spaces for students. We are pleased to be able to offer this to you.”
For Corrine Bartos ’25, ’26 MS, the Career Expo was a particularly exciting opportunity. She attended last year's expo shortly after she changed her major from marine biology to sports management. The expo was, in a way, the first step for her as she searched for a new major. She has now been in the sports management program for a year now, and she says she has become more confident by interacting with industry professionals at this year's event.
“This opportunity is amazing,” she said. “When you think about sports, you can forget just how many options there really are. Anyone can come here and find something that suits them, even if it's a sports management career fair. Everything is connected to sports.”
