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Dr. Sharianne Walker |
At $213 billion a year, sports are big business in the U.S. Not surprisingly, sport management is the largest major in the College of Business at Western New England University. What distinguishes our program from others, says Chair and Professor of Management Sharianne Walker, is its focus on a business curriculum over exercise science or physical education.
“Our program is one of only a handful in the country accredited by AACSB International, the world’s leading accreditation body for business schools.”
Dr. Walker gives her students an unprecedented inside view into the world of sports through her own experience in the field. She has worked in marketing and public relations for Commonwealth Properties, the holding company for the New England Patriots and Foxboro Raceway and stadium, as well as the Boston Celtics. She understands the dedication and intensity it takes to break into the industry and is determined to give her students every opportunity to stand out in the job market.
“What’s great about Western New England University is the personal attention our students receive. The faculty gets to know our students; we find out what their interests are and try to bring them related opportunities. Those relationships develop as much outside of the classroom as they do within it, from sitting together at a basketball game or talking over a cup of coffee at the Campus Center.”
Because networking is key to success in the industry, Dr. Walker and her faculty advise students to begin networking right on campus. “One of the first things we encourage freshman students to do is to get involved with the Sport Management Association. Its members are actively involved in the community. They organize several major events on campus, including Midnight Madness, the official opening of the winter sports season, which is one of the best attended events on campus.”
While all students at the University are advised to perform internships, sport management majors routinely undertake several to set their résumés apart in the job market. “Our students have so many opportunities from the Basketball Hall of Fame and the MassMutual Center in the City to Gillette Stadium, Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High, and a host of minor league teams in New England.”
Each February, recent graduates hold a panel discussion during an Open House session to provide insight into the program and career paths. Recent sessions have included graduates who have begun their careers at ESPN, New Balance, and the Ranch Golf Club. Other graduates work for the NFL, the U.S. Tennis Association, and the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority.
Dr. Walker feels the practical and business-orientation of the curriculum helps open the doors to such careers. She says, “So much of what we do is really hands-on. Real-life projects have included working with an alumnus of the University to develop licensing programs for World Wresting Entertainment, Inc.
“Historically, the sports industry has lagged behind other industries and not been taken seriously as needing specifically trained business people. Having worked in sports, I have come to realize how important it is to develop business savvy leaders who will shape the industry. Western New England University is in an excellent position to lead this effort."
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Dr. Sharianne Walker |
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