Caitlin Cassidy’s college experience has been nothing short of amazing. From riding helicopters with celebrities at the Ryder Cup to being on the field and court for huge moments in Gamecock sports, she’s already done things beyond the wildest dreams of many students. For all of that, she’s just getting started, and already working to help other women follow her example in shattering barriers in what was once a male-dominated industry.

For Cassidy, storytelling and being a powerful woman in sport are passions that drive her. As she approaches graduation in May from the David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment, she has already become not just a teller of other people’s stories but also already an inspirational example to others.

“I want to be able to show that not only the freshmen here, but also little girls back at my high school where I've talked and others like them that it's possible to thrive in these male dominant fields,” she says. “It's really awesome to be at a university that has such a passion for women in sport and such a deep understanding. Even our male professors are looking to their female counterparts constantly for advice on how to help guide us through that journey, and then we have incredible female leaders here, from obviously Dawn Staley to others like Susan O'Malley.”

Cassidy has served as a College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management Student Leader, as a game day intern with Gamecock Athletics in football and women’s and men’s basketball and as head student manager for Gamecock volleyball. In the latter role, she supports the coaching staff and assists with game day logistics, while supervising other managers.

She also earned an internship with the PGA of America last summer, working the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte in her first week on the job, then moving to headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

“My main role was to serve as a digital intern,curating and capturing content for different platforms. So whether it was the KPMG Women's PGA Championship or the National High School Golf Association, just kind of anywhere they kind of needed me is where I found myself.”

“Anywhere they needed me” turned out to include Bethpage Black in September. Thanks to her outstanding summer work, Cassidy was asked to join the Ryder Cup digital team. She was handed an incredible amount of responsibility: running a social media channel, producing branded content with PGA of America partner Ralph Lauren, and managing the Ryder Cup’s earned media with invited celebrities. It was a demanding role but a glamorous one. Many of the celebrities were shuttled from Rockefeller Center in Manhattan to the Long Island course by helicopter, and Cassidy was often along for the 12-minute flight.

“My role included making sure that if they were on property, we were gaining from their presence being there, and making sure that them being there was going to benefit our brand and their own brand as well," she explains. She met many famous people, including Jimmy Fallon, top NBA pick Cooper Flagg and another basketball star who had unknowingly played a big part in her life.

“I got to personally meet Duncan Robinson, who is like my childhood hero. His story of making it to the NBA is what got me into storytelling, and I had talked about that in my PGA interview, so it was like a full circle moment to get to meet him.”

Creating memorable experiences is the heart of the sport and entertainment management industry, and at the Ryder Cup, Cassidy had a chance to do it on a worldwide scale.

“One of the best parts was seeing celebrities be so in awe of something that I'd worked on and helped create for the past six months. Being able to bring them and have them walk through the player tunnel was so normal for me at that moment, but so surreal to realize that I was providing a once in a lifetime experience for people I’ve looked up to and cherished my whole life. It was really awesome.”

After graduation, Cassidy hopes to continue working in golf, whether with the PGA of America or with the European tour. Wherever she lands, she will continue telling stories.

“The untold stories are something that just kind of get my brain going, my gears turning,” she says. “With the PGA, it was really all about the storytelling outside of the golf in my role, rather than what was going on between the ropes. It's really cool to be able to tell those stories and then be building my own. A lot of people don't see that work behind the scenes or how many football games I've worked and not been able to go to as a fan. It's really awesome to have something to show for it now.”

She has a great deal to show for it, and an incredible resume as she prepares to move to the next step of her career. She credits USC for playing a big part in opening doors and preparing her to excel from day one.

“Freshman year, I worked the Masters, and took a class with [School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Senior Instructor] Jessica Chavis to get ready for it. That really showed me that this program truly prepares everyone for any facet of the career they want,” she says. “My golf tourism classes, like my classes with [David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Senior Instructor and Internship Director] Steve Taylor and my marketing classes, everything that's built up to this moment has truly helped me prepare myself. Everyone I talk to in the industry always says ‘South Carolina is doing it right.’ So it's really awesome to be a part of this program and try to help other kids see that path. It's an incredible program.”

Cassidy does more than just talk about helping others see the path, especially other women. She has helped build the Women in Sport and Entertainment Management student organization, serving most recently as its director of social strategy and branding. Her answer when asked where she wants to be in five years sums up her drive and her passion.

“Just being a powerful female in sport is the ultimate goal, and just helping others.”