University of New Haven Names Major League Soccer VP as Executive in Residence for its Sport Management Department

The University of New Haven announced that Matthew Fealey ’08 M.S. will serve as the executive in residence (EIR) for the Sport Management department for the 2024-25 academic year. The vice president of partnership marketing at Major League Soccer (MLS), Fealey will visit campus multiple times throughout the academic year, offering various interactive opportunities for students.

“I am honored to serve as executive in residence for the Sport Management program this year,” said Fealey. “I always look back on my time at the University of New Haven fondly and owe a great debt of gratitude to the sport management program as it provided me with tools and skills I still apply in my career today. I am excited to come back to campus this year to meet with the future leaders of the sports industry.”

Since joining MLS in 2015 as the manager of partnership marketing, he has been responsible for overseeing client relations, activation planning, and business development initiatives with some of the league’s largest strategic corporate partners. Prior to joining MLS, Fealey held positions with the New York Mets and the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee.

Fealey earned a Master’s Degree in Management of Sports Industries from the University of New Haven, where he was also a pitcher on the varsity baseball team in 2007, earning a spot on the East Coast Conference’s Third Team. He completed his undergraduate degree in American studies at Yale University in 2006, where he also played varsity baseball for the Yale Bulldogs and was named to the Ivy League’s First Team as a senior in 2006.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome Matthew back to campus,” said Ceyda Mumcu, professor and chair of sport management and assistant provost for faculty development and diversity initiatives. “With the remarkable growth and development of MLS, we are excited for Matt to share his insights on recent trends in partnerships, the impact of world-class talent on the league, monetization of assets, and more.”

For more than 25 years, the EIR program at the University of New Haven has brought distinguished executives to engage, educate, and mentor sport management students.