Sport Management Career Expo Connects Students and Industry Professionals

Jake Romao ’25, ’26 M.S. recently attended his first career fair as a Charger. Not only was it a great opportunity for him to network, it was an event that was specific to his major: sport management.

As part of the University’s second annual sport management career expo, more than five dozen students connected with industry leaders. It was a terrific way for them to learn about career and internship opportunities.

“This is a good foot in the door and a way to get my name out there,” said Romao. “I came for the opportunities. Having a career fair for sport management is a big deal. It shows how much we’ve grown as a field and reflects the opportunities for the future.”

‘A great way to learn about what’s out there’

Students spoke with representatives from more than 20 employers, including the Bridgeport Islanders, a professional hockey team; the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Haven; and Yale University.

David Ramirez ’24, who will soon graduate with his bachelor’s degree in sport management, was excited to see what the career expo had to offer. Though he already has a job lined up with First Tee of Connecticut, a youth development organization focused on golf, he enjoyed last year’s event so much that he wanted to explore the networking opportunities at this year’s expo.

“Last year I really liked meeting people in different aspects of the industry,” he said. “It’s a great way to learn about what’s out there.”

‘The first place I go to hire’

Many of the industry professionals meeting with students proudly wore “alumni” stickers. Christine Huber ’00, general manager of CFC Arena in Hamden, Conn., was among them. She was excited to see many familiar faces at the expo – those of professors and students.

“As an alum of the University, this is the first place I go to hire,” she said. “The University’s is one of the top sport management programs in the country, and students have more knowledge and real-life experience.”

The event was one of several major-specific career expos that the University’s Career Development Center is hosting this semester, including a recent event focused on opportunities in the field of criminal justice.

Baki Izzat, an employer relations manager, says the turnout for the sport management expo was excellent relative to the size of the program. She says career fairs such as this one are the result of an important collaboration with faculty that yield wonderful opportunities for students.

"We are able to host events like this due to the University’s exceptional faculty members who highlight our office's work and offerings to their students, and encourage them to attend our events,” she said. “This career fair could not have been made possible without the support of J.W. Stewart and Derek Smith from the sport management and esports, and gaming programs here, respectively. We are looking forward to expanding the event even more next year to provide new internship and job opportunities for our students."

‘The opportunities are nothing but amazing’

This year’s career expo was the first to include esports and gaming. Lydia Fister, assistant commissioner and director of esports for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), enjoyed meeting with Chargers. She was excited to meet so many students who were charged up about esports.

“They came in very interested, and it was like rapid fire!” she said. “It was great to see so much interest. It’s awesome to see schools have esports programs and dedicated esports spaces for students. I’m glad to provide opportunities for students because I remember when that was me.”

For Corrine Bartos ’25, ’26 M.S., the career expo was a particularly exciting opportunity. She attended last year’s expo shortly after she’d changed her major from marine biology to sport management. That expo was the first step, of sorts, for her, as she was exploring her new major. She’s now been in the sport management program for a year, and she says she felt much more confident interacting with industry professionals at this year’s event.

“The opportunities are nothing but amazing,” she said. “When you think of sports, you might forget just how many options there really are. Anyone could come here and find something for them, even if it is a sport management career fair. Everything is connected to sports.”