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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Headshots of Rosie Spagnuolo, Yiming (Krystal) Qi, Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana, Casey Welch

April 2025 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: April 7, 2025; Updated on: April 7, 2025
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty and Staff Notes

  • Steve Taylor was voted Best HRSM Professor in a poll of USC students.
  • Natasha Brison received the Betty van der Smissen Leadership award at the Sports and Recreation Law Association annual conference.
  • Simon Hudson had two new books published: Introduction to Hospitality Management and a fully revised and updated fourth edition of the best-selling Customer Service for Hospitality & Tourism.
  • Scott Kaplan, Karen Edwards (Ireland), Matt Dunn, Johan Rewilak (England), Jana Xanthakos, Collin Crick and Christina Sayers (Germany) led successful global classroom trips over spring break.
  • The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved an academic collaboration agreement between the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, extending the joint Master of Sport and Entertainment degree program offered by the two universities.
  • The Department of Retailing hosted the annual American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA) Conference.
  • HRSM hosted the Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network’s fundraising luncheon and wine tasting. Scott Taylor Jr., Keyara Kaiser, Emilio Guerra, Isaac Pressley, Emma Dickenson and HRSM students all worked hard to make the event a success and support the CCPN's mission to fight Colorectal Cancer in South Carolina.

Student Notes

  • Congratulations to the newest cohort of HRSM Leaders! The HRSM Leadership Program is an exclusive personal and professional development initiative for students, designed to ensure that the College of HRSM delivers confident, poised, self-aware, diverse, and effective leaders. Click for the full list of new Leaders.
  • Meredith Aase (Hospitality Management) began working as a guest service representative at Graduate Hotels Columbia.
  • Chloé Abellard (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the Brooklyn Nets as an equipment operations intern for this summer.
  • Hatice Akkurt, Fadel Almowallad, Ahmed Alshehri and Savannah Miller, all students in Professor Miyoung Jeong’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Data Visualization class, won second place and a $500 prize in the 2024 Graduate Student Data Visualization Award competition, sponsored by University of South Carolina Libraries. They submitted a Charlotte Hotel Market Analysis for the competition.
  • Lauren Allen (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Gamecock Football on-campus recruiting team as a summer intern.
  • Joshua Applebaum (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a clubhouse assistant internship with the Somerset Patriots for this summer.
  • McKrae Ard (Sport and Entertainment Management with a minor in Hospitality Management) started a position as people operations assistant at Spring Valley Country Club in Columbia.
  • Brynn Atlas (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as a merchandising intern with the South Carolina Club Ice Hockey team
  • Jenna Bernstein (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a premium hospitality internship with the Columbia Fireflies.
  • Shannon Blumenfeld (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an offer to join the Chicago Wolves as a group sales account executive starting after graduation in May.
  • Madison Boles (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) will be spending the summer as a pool supervisor at Forest Lake Club in Columbia.
  • Jenna Callan (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an experiential marketing internship with Sports Promotions Group for this summer.
  • Annabelle Carter (Retailing - Retail Management with a minor in Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as inside sales representative with the Carolina Panthers to begin after graduation in May.
  • Caitlin Cassidy (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be interning at PGA of America Headquarters in Frisco, Texas as a digital intern this summer.
  • Lauren Cavallaro (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a food and beverage internship with Kiawah Island Golf Resort for this summer.
  • Anna Chrisanthopoulos (Retailing) will be spending the summer in Boston as a merchandising coordinator intern with ASICS America Corporation.
  • Jaron Coney (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) earned the Wolf of Beale Award for his work as a ticket sales representative with the Memphis Grizzlies.
  • Riley Duggan (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the Chicago Wolves as an inside sales representative to begin after graduation in May.
  • Cami Dyer (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a stadium and events operations internship for this summer with the Charleston Battery.
  • Kayla Feldman (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a merchandising internship with The Starboard Merch Shop in Dewey Beach, Delaware for this summer.
  • Ambar Ferra (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as event services coordinator with the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash.
  • Ryan Fitzgerald (Sport and Entertainment Management)  accepted a stadium operations internship for summer 2025 with the Hudson Valley Renegades.
  • Abby Foy (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a retail operations internship position with the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium for this summer.
  • Kade Funyak (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Lexington County Blowfish.
  • Emily George (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Atlanta Gladiators.
  • Morgan Giard (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a post-grad position with Delaware North, working with the Nashville Predators.
  • Ethan Goldberg (Hospitality Management) earned his Level 1 Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
  • Jessica Gregorio (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining Tepper Sports & Entertainment as a fellow this summer through the Charlotte Sports Business Fellowship powered by Sports Biz Careers.
  • Seth Gunning (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an internship with the Asheville Tourists in promotions/operations for this summer.
  • Kaileigh Hamilton (Tourism Management) accepted a position with Surfside Realty Company in Surfside Beach, South Carolina for after graduation. She will be their marketing and communications coordinator.
  • Moxley Homan (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be interning at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Florida this summer.
  • Ainsley Horn (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, a part of the PGA TOUR Champions, as a tournament services intern after graduation in May.
  • Sara Hrivnak (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be working as a ticket services representative for the Philadelphia Phillies this summer.
  • Ian Huver (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as manager of new business development with the Atlanta Gladiators.
  • Alexandra Kantrowitz (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as an event operations intern at MetLife Stadium for this summer.
  • Grace Kazmierski-Davie (Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D.) successfully defended her dissertation. She is joining the sport management faculty at Kennesaw State University in the fall as an assistant professor.
  • Rachel Kent (Hospitality Management) accepted a marketing internship for this summer with Hard Rock International at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol.
  • Corali Kimura (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a position as a buying coordinator with Rack Room Shoes for after graduation in May.
  • Lauryn Kita (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the Los Angeles Chargers as a seasonal video intern starting in May.
  • Natalie Kobus (Hospitality Management) accepted an internship at the Country Club of Buffalo.
  • Diesel Knight (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a member of their New Business Support Team.
  • Parker Knight (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Lexington County Blowfish.
  • Trevor Lazarus (Hospitality Management) will be joining Loews Hotels as an operations intern at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando this summer.
  • Grace Love (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a sports marketing intern position at Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment for this summer.
  • Zach Martin (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer position with Perfect Game USA as a field manager intern.
  • Jarett Mayfield (Sport and Entertainment Management) was accepted into the Atlanta Hawks Spring 2025 Virtual Sales Academy.
  • Hayley McDonald (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Worcester Railers HC as a Group Sales Specialist after graduation this May.
  • Emma McManis (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) as a traveling operations intern for this summer.
  • Savannah Miller (Tourism Management) will be continuing her education at HRSM, pursuing a Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management degree.
  • Whitney Policky (Retailing - Retail Management) will be joining the Pieces And Peaches team this summer as a buying/social media intern.
  • Macy Powell (Hospitality Management) accepted a full-time position, starting in July, as a guest service agent at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, a Forbes Triple Five-Star property.
  • Alyse Puccio (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with the New York Islanders as a community relations intern for the summer.
  • Charlie Queen (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Carolina Hurricanes as an inside sales associate following graduation in May.
  • Jahnile Registre (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position as an equipment intern with Gamecock Football.
  • Sydney Rhue (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position in the USC Athletics Business Office.
  • Lydia Richardson (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position with Oak View Group as an account executive for CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore in the Premium Sales/Services Department.
  • Noelle Sarafian (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a full-time role as special events coordinator with the MetLife Stadium Special Events Department. She interned there last summer.
  • Alyssa Schwartz (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an inside sales team internship with the Columbia Fireflies for this summer.
  • Kinsley Spearman (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new role as operations manager and instructor at Charleston Taekwondo for after graduation in May.
  • Kaylee Steiner (Hospitality Management) accepted an internship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort for this summer.
  • Christa Tomczyk (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be returning to U.S. Club Soccer as an event operations intern this summer.
  • Noly Tran (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) will continue her education starting in the fall in the Master of Professional Studies program at Parsons School of Design - The New School in New York City.
  • Collin Traynham (Hospitality Management) accepted a summer internship with The Coral Bay Club.
  • Brandon Vereen (Sport and Entertainment Management) completed the Major League Baseball on Deck Sales Program.
  • Morgan Williamson (Sport and Entertainment Management) will spend this summer as an intern at Union League National Golf Club in New Jersey.
  • William Wrenn (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a ticket sales and fan experience internship with the Minot Hot Tots and Honeybees for this summer.

Alumni Notes

  • Lexie Bado (Hospitality Management '23, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management '24) accepted a new position as food and beverage manager at Charlotte Country Club.
  • Taylor Biccum (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '21) was promoted to assistant store manager at Free People.
  • Leah Blanchard (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) started a new position as client services coordinator at FanDuel Sports Network.
  • Lydia Campbell (Hospitality Management, '20) was promoted to sales manager at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
  • Noemi Cannella (Retailing, '24) accepted a new role as assistant account executive in media relations with Skirt PR. She interned with the company as a student.
  • Morgan Williams Cerasuolo (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '17) was promoted to paid social senior specialist at Tinuiti.
  • Riley Collier (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) was promoted to senior coordinator, premium experiences and ticket services with the New York Yankees.
  • Eleni Collis (Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) started a new position as coordinator, music at Wasserman.
  • Nirjary M. Desai (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, '03) and her agency, KIS (Cubed) won Best Wedding over 125 Guests at the Allie Awards, an annual event recognizing excellence in the live events industry in Georgia.
  • William Dissen (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, ‘06) was nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef in America award, recognizing him as one of the nation's 20 best chefs.
  • Haylee Foreman (Retailing - Retail Management, '20) started a new position as lead manufacturing specialist - material plan and execution manufacturing at GE Vernova.
  • Sarah Fowler (Retailing, '22) was promoted to senior manager at Wasserman Next Gen.
  • Zackary Gale (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) was promoted to assistant director of compliance at Georgia State University.
  • Caroline Gilreath (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations,'19) started a new position as CX coordinator at OOBE Apparel Design Group.
  • Ryley Harbour (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '18) accepted an experiential manager position with Octagon, joining a team in planning and executing activations at U.S. Soccer, FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and FIFA World Cup 2026 events.
  • Peyton Hunter (Tourism Management, '22) started a new position as marketing coordinator at McAngus Goudelock & Courie in Columbia.
  • Julia Jaffee (Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) was promoted to Special Events Manager with the St. Paul Saints.
  • Jackson Jensen (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining Perfect Game this summer as an assistant event coordinator.
  • Kyle Klaiber (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as Flight Academy member with the New York Jets.
  • Michael McFarlin (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) was promoted to manager, university relations at Wasserman Next Gen.
  • Chloe Pack (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '24) accepted a new role at Gwynn's as a customer service associate.
  • Francisco Paramo-Wedell (Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) started a new position as associate director, brands at Wasserman.
  • Sean Pecora (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as a membership service representative at Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.
  • Ian Piihl (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as account manager with the Columbia Fireflies.
  • Dean Pocwierz (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) started a new position as tournament manager at Southern Texas PGA.
  • Yiming (Krystal) Qi (Hospitality Management '22, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, '24) started a new role as manager, asset management and investor relations with TLTsolutions.
  • Victoria Randall (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '21) started a new position as associate buyer - women's wallets and specialty accessories at Coach.
  • Emily Reichling (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) started a new position as Rowdie Crew member with the Indianapolis Indians.
  • Chris Ricciardi (Master of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration '91) earned his Certified Hospitality Sales Leader (CHSL) certification from HSMAI. This certification is designed for leaders who build high-performing teams, leverage data, and drive business growth.
  • Michael Rossi (Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) started a new position as associate district manager at ADP,
  • Rosie Spagnuolo (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new position with Genesco Sports Enterprises as an assistant account manager for PepsiCo focusing on their league-wide partnership with the NFL.
  • Erin Sutherland (Hospitality Management, '24) accepted a new position as hospitality specialist in Raleigh, North Carolina for Epiq.
  • Ashley Unrue (Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, '08) started a new position as senior regional director of sales at Newport Hospitality Group.
  • Carla Vaca Pinacho (Tourism Management, '22) started a new position as project coordinator with Tourism Economics.
  • Samantha Vasknetz (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '13) started a new position as vice president at SPORTFIVE.
  • Katherine Venteicher (Hospitality Management, '24) will be joining the Pro Links Sports team in Little Rock, Arkansas as the volunteer, charity, and events coordinator at Simmons Bank Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event hosted at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
  • Casey Welch (Sport and Entertainment Management, '21) was promoted to senior member experience specialist with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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