In the news

• GOP asking US Olympic committee to enforce political prohibitions: Fox News (feat. Mark Nagel)
• The NCAA and Supreme Court took a small step to fix college sports. It’s not nearly enough: Washington Post (feat. Richard Southall)
• Betting on horse racing in SC? Lawmakers studying billion-dollar equine industry: The State (feat. study led by Simon Hudson)
• SC tourism booming while labor shortage persists: WLTX (feat. Drew Martin)
• Sha’carri Richardson’s Olympic Absence about more than marijuana: Sportico (feat. Mark Nagel)
• Sport 2050: Why are we doing this - and why does it matter today?: BBC (feat. Nick Watanabe)
• Sport 2050: Three ways attending sport as a fan could change: BBC (feat. Nick Watanabe)
• Universal’s newest thriller VelociCoaster has just a lap bar. How safe is that?: Tampa Bay Times (feat. Scott Smith)
• The Rise and Collapse of Europe’s Soccer Super League: The Nation (feat. Nick Watanabe)
• Hospitality industry job fair to be held Aug. 17: Columbia Regional Business Report (feat. Simon Hudson)
• Free Times Power List: 30 people who shape Columbia’s culture: Free Times (feat. alumnus Sid Kenyon, adjunct instructor John Katz, and scholarship donor Bobby Williams)
• Jack Meakin Promoted Regional Director of Business Development: HospitalityNet (feat. alumnus Jack Meakin)
• National TV Shopping Personality Libby Floyd Enters the Race for California Governor: PR Newswire (feat. alumna Libby Floyd)

Faculty, staff and student notes

• The article, “Millennials’ Virtual Reality Experiences Pre- and Post-COVID-19,” by Ph.D. student Henry Kim, former faculty member Kevin So, Brian Mihalik and Ph.D. student Alexia Pedo-Lopes was accepted for publication by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
• Reenea Harrison gave a presentation entitled, “Let’s Go Out to Lunch: Understanding and Working Through Our Differences with Effective Communication,” to a group of primary care sports medicine fellows at the UofSC Medical School.
• Georgia Petritsis was elected to represent HRSM in the inaugural UofSC Staff Senate.
• Erica Lake presented her research on Black students’ perception of experiential education at PWIs to more than 400 participants at the National Association of Colleges and Employers Annual Conference and Expo.

Alumni news

Accomplishments/Awards:

• Michael Tucker (B.S. Retail Management, 2002) was named one of the Top 21 Coaches in Tucson City in 2021.
• Christina Saragnese (B.S. Hospitality Management, 2011) was named 2^nd VP of the SGMP National Capital Chapter Board. 

Job Changes/Promotions:

2021

• Matthew Kaminski (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with Georgia PGA as a tournament coordinator.

2020

• Catherine Saulino (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Fanatics, Inc. as an assistant buyer of MLB and NFL Headwear.

2019

• Jessica Gan (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as a product manager with the Shiji Group.
• Lauryn Gillis (M.S.E.M. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a client relations manager with BDA Sports Management.
• Caroline Gilreath (B.S. Retail Management) started a new position with Southern Tide as a sales coordinator.
• John Ragin (Sport and Entertainment Management) was named video coordinator for the UofSC men’s basketball team.

2018

• Ciana Campo (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with Rhino Sports & Entertainment as a director of operations.
• Jack Meakin (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as a regional director of business development with Hotel Equities.

2017

• Taylor Polhemus (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Edelman as an account executive, Digital Health.
• Zoe Siegel (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position as a NA digital site merchandiser with Converse.

2016

• Olivia Case (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Sysco Columbia, LLC as a compass / foodbuy coordinator for Sysco Carolinas.

2015

• Rachel Meeks (B.S. Retail Management) started a new position with Nordstrom as an associate buyer.
• Josh Strickland (M.S.E.M. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as the vice president of corporate partnerships with the Winston-Salem Dash.

2014

• Tamlyn Horne (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management, 2012, M.S.E.M. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a tour manager with Feld Entertainment.
• Hayley van Gorder (B.S. Fashion Merchandising) started a new position with Michael Kors as a senior global merchandising analyst.

2013

• Alexis Long (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Google as a recruiter (via Signature Consultants).

2012

• Shalonda Goins (B.S. Hospitality Management) was featured in an article by Waffle House. Goins is now a division manager in charge of nine Waffle House stores.
• Fred Paternostro (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with The Hershey Company as a category strategist, Walmart.
• Ashton Sniderman (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a regional brand manager with Live Nation Entertainment.

2011

• Marisa Tassello (M.R. Retailing) started a new position with Calvin Klein as a buyer.

2010

• Sean Coyle (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) started a position as a guest experience area manager with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.

2000

• Laura Kitchens (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position as an area director of sales with PeachState Hospitality.

1996

• Laura Holbrook Barnes (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with Montage Palmetto Bluff as the director of accounts, Midwest.

1982

• Rolando Edrada (B.S. Hospitality Management) started a new position with M Gibson Hotels as a director of business development and construction.