SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 4, 2024–2025 KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
IN THIS ISSUE Inside Our Huddle: Faculty Highlights Internship Insider 21 Scoring Accolades: Student Achievements 23 3 Departmental News 7 Experiential Learning Across the Year 9 Alumni Corner 19 Dean’s List 29 Grant Recipients Go to Greece 27
Department Secretary Department Chair Soojin Kim, Ph.D. Faculty William S. Bradshaw, Ph.D. Kerri Cebula, J.D. Bradley Congelio, Ph.D. Duane Crider, Ph.D. Yongjae Kim, Ph.D. Norman Sigmond, M.S. Michelle Vaughn, Ph.D. Jeffrey Whitmoyer, M.B.A. Eleni Feggulis, M.Ed. Sport Management kutztown.edu/sportmanagement sptmgmt@kutztown.edu @Kutztown Sport Management 207 deFrancesco Building, Kutztown, PA 19530 2024–2025 | 2
Inside Our Huddle At Kutztown University, our Sport Management faculty don’t just teach the game, they live it. Whether they’re publishing groundbreaking research or presenting at national conferences, these professors are constantly pushing the boundaries of their field. Even better? They bring students along for the ride, inviting them to get involved in real-world projects, research, and professional opportunities. Take a look at how our faculty made an impact throughout the 2024–2025 academic year on campus, in the industry, and beyond. Faculty & Staff Highlights 3 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
AWARDS
MILSTONES Dr. Brad Congelio published “Temporal Evolution and Sectoral Variation of Bassmaster Elite Series Fishing Tournaments” in the Journal of Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, Location Intelligence in Sport Tourism Economics (June 2025). Drs. Soojin Kim & Yongjae Kim published “Understanding Gen Z’s Response to CSR Messaging: How Message Clarity & Perceived Motives Drive Engagement” in the International Journal of Business in Sports (June 2025). Drs. Yongjae Kim & Soojin Kim published “Exploring the Role of Team-Related Cues on Viewer Behavior & Engagement with Corporate Social Marketing on Sport Team Twitter Pages” in the International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship (June 2025). Drs. Soojin Kim & Yongjae Kim presented “Innovating sport management education: Integrating biometric technology into sport consumer behavior curriculum” at COSMA’s NYC Sport Management Symposium in Manhattan, NY (May 2025). Dr. Michelle Vaughn secured a Category 1 Individual/Group Project Grant from the Kutztown University Professional Development Committee for the Keith Haring Fitness Event held annually at the Keith Haring Fitness Court in Kutztown, PA (May 2025). Dr. Duane Crider presented “Tai Chi for All” & “Tai Chi Mini-Class” at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Conference in Orlando, FL (April 2025). Drs. Yongjae Kim & Soojin Kim secured a PASSHE Grant for their research entitled, “Cultural Connections in Marketing: How Korean Celebrity Endorsements Influence Consumer Perception and Behavior in the U.S.” (April 2025) Drs. Duane Crider & William S. Bradshaw presented “Impact of Ten Steps of Critical Writing” at a Kutztown University Workshop, sponsored by the College of Business (April 2025). Drs. Soojin Kim & Yongjae Kim secured a KU Bears Grant from Kutztown University for their research entitled, “Framing CSR: The Impact of Concrete vs. Abstract CSR Messaging on Perceptions and Behavior” (April 2025). Drs. Yongjae Kim & Soojin Kim published “Exploring Consumer Cognitive and Behavioral Engagement on a Sport Team’s Twitter Pages” in the Communication & Sport Journal (March 2025).
Prof. Kerri Cebula presented “Beyond the ‘Danger Zone’: Psychiatric Harm in the Context of Sport” at the Sport & Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC (February 2025). Dr. Brad Congelio presented “Constructing Data Pipelines in Sport Management: An Example using Air Quality Data and Major League Baseball Attendance” at the Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA) Conference in Cincinnati, OH (February 2025). Dr. Brad Congelio published “Analytics Democratization: How the NFL Fosters a Pipeline of Future Analysts through Digital Data Accessibility” in Digital Transformations in Sport, edited by Villemaire, J. & Huang, H. and published by Routledge (January 2025). Dr. Brad Congelio presented “Tackling the Analytics Gap: Integrating R Programming in Sport Management Curricula” at the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) Conference in Las Vegas, NV (January 2025). Dr. Yongjae Kim published “Decoding fan engagement: An eye-tracking analysis of attention allocation on sport team Facebook pages” in an ABDC-listed journal, International Journal of Sport Communication (January 2025). Dr. Brad Congelio published “Integrating a Practical Sport Analytics Course into Sport Management Education” in The COSMA Journal (December 2024). Drs. Yongjae Kim & Soojin Kim published “Impact of Message Framing and Team Identification on Pro-social Behavior in Sport Team Charity Campaigns: Insights from Facial Expression and Eye-Tracking Analysis” in a Cabell-listed journal, International Journal of Sport Management (December 2024). Dr. Yongjae Kim published “Exploring the Impact of Virtual Reality on Destination Images, Attitudes, and Travel Decision-Making: A Comparative Analysis with Traditional Media” in the International Journal of Business in Sports, Tourism, and Hospitality Management (December 2024). Dr. Yongjae Kim published “The Effect of Community-Based Homologous Reproduction on Diversity in Collegiate Football Coaching Staff” in the International Journal of Business in Sports, Tourism, and Hospitality Management (December 2024). Dr. Yongjae Kim was awarded the JARXMediaProbe Data Grant (November 2024). Prof. Norm Sigmond presented “Developing a Finance Course for Sport Management” at the 47 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Business Economics & Technology in State College, PA (October 2024). 2024–2025 | 6
After Ms. Deb Peter’s retirement, we welcomed Ms. Gem Grunge as our temporary secretary. She quickly stepped in and kept things running smoothly until our current secretary, Ms. Eleni Feggulis, joined the team. Ms. Feggulis comes to us from her role as a Business Development Assistant at USA Sport Group, where she supported operations and developed SEO content for youth sport websites. As a Sport Management alum, we are delighted to welcome her back as she pursues her goal of a career in collegiate athletics. We are thankful to Ms. Grunge and Ms. Feggulis for assisting us in a smooth secretarial transition. DEPT NEWS Dr. Crider retired from Kutztown University after 29 years of service to the Department of Sport Management. While Dr. Crider held many roles during his tenure at KU, his most prominent one was as a standout faculty member, teaching primarily event and risk management topics. We wish Dr. Crider the best and thank him for his service throughout the years! Farewell to Dr. Duane Crider Secretarial Changes
The Faculty and Staff Recognition Picnic is designed to honor faculty, managers, professional staff, and support personnel who have reached a significant service milestone in their careers, as well as those who have retired or will be retiring from Kutztown University. Along with our celebration of Dr. Duane Crider for his retirement, our department has been lucky enough to be able to honor two additional service milestones during the annual picnic event: We are fortunate to have had these two on board in our department for so many years. Here’s to many more! Faculty Service Recognition 2024–2025 | 8
Real Experience. Real Impact. At Kutztown, we believe the best way to grow is by doing. Experiential learning empowers students to apply their knowledge, build real-world skills, and gain meaningful experience beyond the classroom. Check out our exceptional students who are gaining the expertise needed to solidify their role in sport! 9 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Over 20 students from our Sport Management majors and/or Coaching & Fitness Administration minor were involved in administering assessments at this year’s Health Expo. Kutztown Health Expo 2024–2025 | 10
Partnered with Women in Sports Helping Inspire the Next Generation (WISHING), our department was able to be the hosting site for the Women in Sports Summit. This event allowed students from all over the country to connect with aspiring sports professionals, all while networking with 14 women working in various roles in sports. Special shout-out to all of the speakers at the event: Women in Sports Summit Erin Ondik Reading Royals Group Sales Executive Brianna Klinger York Revolution Community Engagement Manager Anne Culhane Lehigh Valley IronPigs Director of IronPigs Charities Ashley Grotte Harrisburg Senators Assistant GM of Marketing Casey M. Stark University of Bridgeport Assistant Professor of Sport Management Colleen O'Connell Millersville University Assistant Professor of Wellness & Sport Sciences August Palchanis New York Islanders Account Manager for Member Services Kelly Whitt Philadelphia Eagles HRIS Specialist Caitlin Burns Lehigh Valley Phantoms Digital & Community Outreach Manager Michelle Quaglia Lehigh University Football Social Media & Recruiting Assistant Samantha Biastre YMCA of the Roses Youth Development Director Kate Corcoran Millersville University Director of Athletics Kristen Nicholson Kutztown University Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Sydney Cole Philadelphia 76ers Account Executive 11 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
The annual National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) provides a venue for dedicated collegiate sales students to improve their skills and pursue career opportunities with professional sport organizations. Kutztown’s sales team impressed at the 2025 NCSSC, hosted by Baylor University and the Atlanta Hawks. Led by Dr. Yongjae Kim, Sport Management majors Andrew Mann ‘25 (Ticket Sales Division) and Isiah Fernandez ‘25 (Corporate Sales Division) both advanced to the final round, landing 17 in the final standings. th National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship 2024–2025 | 12
Led by Drs. Yongjae Kim and Soojin Kim, KU sent two teams of three to the Pennsylvania Sport Business Conference to compete in the event’s case competition. While the team of Tatum Rothermel, Braden Neeson, and Slate Clauser put on a great presentation, KU’s team of Andrew Batista (Event’s MVP), Bryan Pensyl, and Kevin Schwartz took home 2 place. nd Pennsylvania Sport Business Case Competition 13 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Held near Keith Haring’s birthday, the annual Keith Haring Fitness Event celebrates his legacy through spirited competition. Organized by students in the Event & Facility Management course at KU, the event brought together KU and Kutztown Area Senior High School teams to compete in a fitness competition, which drew its largest crowd yet, thanks to student leaders Kacie Sienko ‘25 and Ben Angstadt ‘25. Keith Haring Fitness Event 2024–2025 | 14
Our department hosted the third annual National High School Sports Business Case Competition from March 31 to April 1, 2025. The final three teams were judged by a panel of sport industry professionals, KU alumni, and academics, who evaluated their presentations based on various criteria, including creativity, feasibility, and overall quality. The event received overwhelming support from the sports industry, with several organizations sponsoring the competition, including the Philadelphia Flyers and Greco Promotions. National High School Sport Business Case Competition 15 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
While hands-on learning is vital for student growth, showing students the multitude of pathways that exist to succeed benefits their overall development. That said, we could not have provided this experience without the help of our guest speakers, who have been invited through our department and the Sport Management Club (SMC): Guest Speaker Series Greyson Allen PEAK Sports Management Director of Talent Acquisition Justin Corsa Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Assistant Manager of Event Operations Amon Crisden Delaware Blue Coats Manager of Fan Engagement & Youth Programs Karlie Doyle Syracuse University Athletics Assistant Director of Compliance Connor Fahie Philadelphia Flyers Account Executive for Group Events Jackson Fowler Harrisburg Senators Ticket Account Executive Michelle Gober Kutztown University Associate Director of Athletics Solomon Johnson Kutztown University Student Basketball Coach Logan Kemp Associated Marketing, Inc. Sales Consultant Thomas Klinger Philadelphia Flyers Account Manager for Membership Services Dr. George Kosta Democritus University of Thrace Professor Khalil Lee Gatorade Sports Science Institute Senior Scientist Daphne Mitchell LSU Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Dr. Feisal Murshed Kutztown University Associate Professor of Marketing Cody Nelson Harrisburg Senators Ticket Account Executive August Palchanis New York Islanders Account Manager for Member Services Jeff Parry University of Notre Dame Athletics Associate Director of Compliance Brittany Redman Philadelphia Union Director of Fan Services Zachary Robinson Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Corporate Partnerships Manager Jim Rowe Author of “Get Your Ducks in a Row” Darrell Scott New Jersey Devils Senior Manager for Membership Services Cole Single Lehigh Valley IronPigs Manager of Corporate Partnerships Courtney Snyder ESPN Video Editor Kerron Stewart Track & Field Coach; Olympic Gold Medalist Nicole Teklits Miller-Keystone Blood Center Account Manager Taylor Thames Harrisburg Senators Director of Ticket Sales Shawn Thorns Coachella Valley Firebirds Head Equipment Manager Joshua Troutman Harrisburg Senators Senior Account Executive 2024–2025 | 16
The Sport Management Volunteer Team for the National High School Sport Business Case was able to take a trip to watch a Philadelphia Flyers game as part of the event’s opening ceremony. Field Trips Our courses are based on hands-on experience and real-world connections, so we strive to offer local field trips to local sports teams, allowing students to network with current professionals in the field. Take a look at Dr. Soojin Kim’s Sport Marketing class, which was able to attend a Harrisburg Senators game, where they participated in a stadium tour and panel discussion! 17 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Make a game-changing impact by donating today! Capitalize on your donation by participating in the 1866-Minute Giving Challenge before Homecoming every year. The challenge showcases students igniting friendly competition to fundraise the most for our program, helping them experience and participate in more opportunities before graduation.
ALUMNI CORNER My background in Sport Management, combined with the additional business knowledge gained through my MBA, directly prepared me for my first official position in collegiate athletics as an Athletics Management Technician. The foundation I built through my academic experiences provided me with a solid understanding of both business and athletic operations within a collegiate setting. My MBA further strengthened my skills in budgeting, organization, leadership, and operational efficiency—qualities that are essential in supporting athletic departments from a financial standpoint. As a former student-athlete at Kutztown, I had a great experience here and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin my professional career at a place that already feels like home while contributing to the continued success of our athletic programs. Sarah Gatehouse ‘23, ‘25
2024–2025 | 20
Cassandra Baker ‘24 INTERNSHIP INSIDER I had the great pleasure of completing my forcredit internship for Eagle FC in Mechanicsburg, PA, which is one of the longest-standing and successful soccer clubs in Central Pennsylvania. In 2024, I had the opportunity to pursue an internship with the organization, where I was given the title of Internal Operations Manager. In this role, I worked closely with the preprofessional women's soccer team competing in the United Soccer League Women's Division. I gained valuable hands-on insight into the dayto-day operations procedures within a competitive sports organization, and it helped me apply what I learned in my time at Kutztown to a real-world experience. I am proud to have taken the next step in my professional career and to be welcomed back on staff for the 2025 season as Assistant Operations Manager! As a lifelong athlete and a member of the Kutztown University Women's Soccer Team, I am passionate about building a career in sports that allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself. My goal is to give back to the sport that built me and inspire the next generation of women's athletes. I am especially grateful to the professors in the Kutztown University Sport Management Department for equipping me with the knowledge, support, and opportunities to pursue this path. Ultimately, I aspire to build a career in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where I can continue growing while making a positive impact on the future of women's sports. 21 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
I decided to do my fitness administration internship in the Risley Hall Athletic Weight Room during the Spring 2025 semester. Thanks to my mentors, Coach Hobbs Scott and Connor Lawn, I got the opportunity to work with multiple athletes and teams during their team lifts throughout the past semester. This internship was a highly educational, interactive, and reflective experience in the field of sports performance, which I highly enjoyed and took great interest in. I enjoyed watching all the different athletes, not only their individual growth, but also the growth of their team during the semester and the outcomes that came with it. Through this internship, I received the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) 2025 All-American Athlete of the Year Award. My main career goal for the future is to become an athletic director at a high school. In the meantime, I’m focusing on becoming a personal fitness trainer and exploring opportunities as a strength and conditioning coach. I’m passionate about helping people grow, both in the gym and in their daily lives, and I want to empower them to achieve things that they never thought possible. I’m dedicated to supporting others and pushing them to become their best selves in and out of athletics. Jordyn Osner 2024–2025 | 22
1 2 Scoring Accolades Student Achievements 23 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
3 1 Graduating Senior Awards Emme Wolfel ‘24 Andrew Mann ‘25 Greenleigh McGehee ‘25 Kacie Sienko ‘25 (Not Pictured) Isiah Fernandez ‘25 Emme Wolfel ‘24 Cassandra Baker ‘24 (Not Pictured) Outstanding Achievement in Fitness Administration Outstanding Leadership in Sport Management Outstanding Achievement in the Department of Sport Management Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sport Management Outstanding Achievement in Coaching Outstanding Major’s Club Service Outstanding Intern 3 Scholarship Recipients 2 Chi Sigma Mu Honor Society Inductees These students must be at the top of their class academically, volunteer within their department, college, and institution, pursue professional development opportunities, and foster community between students and faculty in their program. Adam Pursell Andrew Mann Slate Clauser Victoria Cappiello Marisa Bragg (Not Pictured) David Graham (Not Pictured) Ben Martin III (Not Pictured) Tyler Sheets (Not Pictured) Kacie Sienko (Not Pictured) Emme Wolfel ‘24 Fred Greco Sport Mgmt Scholarship Bryan Sherry ‘25 Andrew Batista Sport Management Legacy Scholarship 2025 COSMA Student Scholarship 2024–2025 | 24
4 Jordyn Osner earned the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award for her exceptional commitment to training and leadership in the field of strength and conditioning. 4 Voice of Freedom Award 5 NSCA All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year We are incredibly proud of Isiah Fernandez ‘25, who was honored with the Voice of Freedom Award at the annual Ujima Conference! His dedication to excellence, both in and beyond the classroom, is truly inspiring. Braden Neeson received the Grittiest Golden Bear Award for his dedication to the KU Ice Hockey team. Braden not only switched positions during the season but also lent his administrative skills to help the team tighten its budget, saving over $40,000 without compromising opportunities for the players. 6 Grittiest Golden Bear 25 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
5 6 2024–2025 | 26
Utilizing two separate Undergraduate Research Travel Grants, two student teams, working under the mentorship of Dr. Yongjae Kim, harnessed cutting-edge eye-tracking technology to investigate critical questions in sport and tourism. While Emily Boyle and Tatum Rothermel explored “The Impact of Virtual Reality on Destination Images, Attitudes, and Travel Decision-Making,” Andrew Batista and Isiah Fernandez ‘25 analyzed “Fan Focus: Visual Attention Patterns and Engagement on Sport Team Twitter Pages.” Grant Recipients Go to Greece This May, three standout undergraduate students from Kutztown University were sponsored by the Sport Management program to travel abroad and present their original research at the 33 International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science in Komotini, Greece. rd 27 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Although Fernandez couldn’t attend, the other three students and Dr. Kim embarked on a nearly 24-hour journey that led them to Athens, where they explored the Acropolis and Greek antiquities. They then traveled to Komotini, warmly welcomed by the Rector of Democritus University and immediately immersed in a global academic network. At the congress, the students presented their research with professionalism, earning praise for originality, rigor, and clear communication, showcasing the strength of Kutztown’s College of Business. Beyond academics, they built lasting friendships during a sailing trip to Thasos with Greek students, sharing meals, stories, and sunsets over the Aegean. This experience highlights the hands-on learning, global engagement, and mentorship that define Kutztown’s Sport Management program. We are proud of Emily, Tatum, Andrew, and Isiah, and grateful to Drs. Yongjae Kim, Soojin Kim, and Anne Carroll for their dedication to student research and overall success. Their achievements reflect the power of curiosity and opportunity at Kutztown University.
DEAN’S LIST Fall 2024 Erick Acosta Ben Angstadt Matheson Bair Makenna Balay Emma Baldridge Andrew Batista Zach Bender Nicholas Boyer Joline Bozzi John Bozzola Marisa Bragg Sarah Bronico Hudson Brown Tate Clarke Slate Clauser Christopher Cleland Eli Cunningham Richard Failla Hannah Ferris Alyssa Galayda Nicholas Garofalo Sydney Gibbons David Graham Devin Greene Taylor Gurysh Rowan Hall David Kattell Dylan Keating Robby Lloyd Aidan Magaha Dalton Maletsky Andrew Mann Greenleigh McGehee Alex Moser Sammi Noll Judd Novak Jordyn Osner Peyton Parker Nakei Patrick Eric Powers Lenniek Preston Tatum Rothermel Aidan Sanchez Kevin Schwartz Kirsten Seeger Kyle Seiz Tyler Sheets Kacie Sienko Morgan Slomkowski Carey Smith Brianna Stocklin Sammie Suhaka Saige Thibodeaux Carson Torchio Nicholas Varda Abbey Waas Maddie Welsh 29 | KU SPORT MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Spring 2025 Erick Acosta Seth Adams Ben Angstadt Andy Bates Andrew Batista Daniel Bennett Esther Bernstein Joline Bozzi Marisa Bragg Sarah Bronico Hudson Brown Victoria Cappiello Slate Clauser Elijah Cunningham Justin Diefenderfer Joseph Dzuiba Gianna Failla Richard Failla Hannah Ferris Hannah Fortuna Alyssa Galayda Jaden Garcia Nicholas Garofalo Sydney Gibbons Joshua Gibson Taylor Gurysh Rowan Hall Michael Heller Lily Jachowicz Robby Lloyd Andrew Mann Jared Mikloski Ryan Neeb Judd Novak Morgan O'Donnell Jordyn Osner Peyton Parker Alexis Plesic Adam Pursell Kameron Roberts Megan Roth Tatum Rothermel Andrew Sampson Aidan Sanchez Kevin Schwartz Kirsten Seeger Morgan Slomkowski Carey Smith Brianna Stocklin Sammie Suhaka Saige Thibodeaux Carson Torchio Nicholas Varda Alexia Vecchiolli Abigail Waas Maddie Welsh Alexa Windish Peyton Woznicki Wyatt Younes 2024–2025 | 30
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