Holistic Reflection

I did not really plan to pursue a master’s degree, and I definitely never thought I would get a master’s in education. As I have mentioned elsewhere, my passion for collegiate athletics manifested from an unpaid internship that I thought would be fun. I discovered that there is a lot more to college football than just the fanfare of game days. There are operations, community engagement programs, student development initiatives, and more - areas I could see myself building an impactful career. From there, I found myself focusing on all of the changes coming to college sports, and the underdeveloped policy areas. Name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college athletics broke out at just the moment I was looking for a space within the industry where I could set myself apart. 

I did not really plan to pursue a master’s degree, and I definitely never thought I would get a master’s in education. As I have mentioned elsewhere, my passion for collegiate athletics manifested from an unpaid internship that I thought would be fun. I discovered that there is a lot more to college football than just the fanfare of game days. There are operations, community engagement programs, student development initiatives, and more - areas I could see myself building an impactful career. From there, I found myself focusing on all of the changes coming to college sports, and the underdeveloped policy areas. Name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college athletics broke out at just the moment I was looking for a space within the industry where I could set myself apart.

Many people will ask me “why not marketing?” It’s true that the NIL space is code for influencer campaigns, and the field does require significant marketing expertise. However, I felt that I could study digital marketing strategy through hands on experience. If I wanted to be an expert in working specifically with collegiate student-athletes, I needed to understand the student space.

There are tons of unique policy restrictions within higher education, someone coming from any other industry would have a difficult time navigating the web of departments, stakeholders, and org charts. Furthermore, dealing with students is very different from dealing with professional athletes, or any other type of influencer.

I strongly believe that a master’s in higher education - student affairs has given me an essential foundation to continuing my career in college athletics. I plan to continue chasing after the issues that are disrupting the industry, such as NIL and student-athlete wellness. This degree has given me tangible tools and new perspectives on business strategy, legal restrictions, and student development. I look forward to applying these insights as I work towards future leadership positions in college athletics. Who knows - maybe I will be an athletic director one day soon!