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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Portraits of Augie Jansen, Cameron Jones, Tim Marshall and Rachel Kent featured in the July 2025 News and Notes from the University of South Carolina College of HRSM.

July 2025 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: July 2, 2025; Updated on: July 2, 2025
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty and Staff Notes

  • Scott Taylor, Jr. developed the BrewSim Bot for a new course he and Robby Lybrand will be teaching this fall: Craft Beer Production & Sales. Students in the class will develop recipes, brew them, and learn about the world of distribution and sales as it relates to beer. The bot will allow them to roleplay as a brewer, wholesaler, or retailer and to run their chosen operation for a 12-week time frame. Students can provide specific details about their operation and the bot will tailor scenarios to those details and provide new challenges/suggestions each week.
  • Mike Watson participated in Harvard Business School’s Teaching with Cases seminar. He presented case study strategies in support of certification in Teaching with Cases.
  • Marketa Kubickova joined the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Cases team as an associate editor.
  • The Feed the Flock Initiative has sent more than 1,500 meals to the Gamecock CommUNITY Shop!! The food upcycling effort is led by Scott Taylor, Jr. with the help and support of Key Kaiser, Robby Lybrand, Madison Jones, Emma Dickenson, Sydney Lynch, Emma Burton, Maggie Thrasher, Jessica Chavis and the Chavis girls, Carol Como and the Como girls, the Food Recovery Network, Sustainable Carolina, Carolina Food Co., Gamma Phi Beta, Alpa Xi Delta, Phi Mu and Upper Crust Food Service. The meals provided by Feed the Flock are supporting USC students and their families who may be facing food insecurity or limited resources during the summer. We are hopeful that we can expand our work during the school year and develop additional partnerships across campus to provide ready-to-eat meals by recovering excess food from campus dining and other foodservice providers.

Student Notes

  • Deokkyung Ock successfully defended his dissertation and completed his Ph.D. in Sport and Entertainment Management. He will be joining Quinnipiac University in August as an assistant professor of management.
  • Lali Odosashvili successfully defended her dissertation and completed her Ph.D. in Hospitality Management.
  • Caroline Ailstock (Retailing - Retail Management) began a district manager internship with Aldi.
  • Mason Bednarz (Sport and Entertainment Management) is interning with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer.
  • Gavin Craig (Sport and Entertainment Management) completed the Cleveland Cavaliers Virtual Sales Academy.
  • Tara Flood (Sport and Entertainment Management) will join Gamecock Hockey as a public relations and philanthropy intern for the coming season.
  • Jay Green (Sport and Entertainment Management) began a summer internship with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
  • Augie Jansen (Sport and Entertainment Management) served as a standard bearer at the LIV Golf Virginia tournament.
  • Rachel Kent (Hospitality Management) was selected to take part in The Pitch: Sales & Marketing Competition with Gallo & Breakthru Beverage in Napa this September.
  • Erin Lavery (Tourism Management) began a game day operations internship with the Purcellville Cannons.
  • Ph.D. student Omid Oshriyeh (Hospitality Management) was awarded a Teaching Resource Development Grant from the USC Center for Teaching Excellence.
  • Savannah Miller (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management) started a summer role as junior sports camp director at The Club at Berry Creek in Georgetown, Texas.
  • Juliana Self (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be job shadowing at ESPN 730 The Game this summer and has been selected as a marketing and events intern for Gamecock Hockey for the coming season.
  • Mitchell Zavoda (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a photography and digital marketing internship with Gamecock Hockey for the coming season.

Alumni Notes

  • Katie Adams (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) will be joining the PGA Tour as a client services intern with the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Joseph Belmonte (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) was promoted to account manager, CRM at Genesco Sports Enterprises.
  • Alyssa Bilkovski (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) was promoted to assistant manager (soccer, track & field and team training) at IMG Academy.
  • Karina Black (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new role as brand partnerships manager with Carolina Courts.
  • Kip Bouknight (Sport and Entertainment Management, '21) was selected along with Ray Tanner to be inducted into the 2025 class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • Brittany Jones Brady (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, '10) is a recipient of Consultant Connect’s 2025 North America’s Top 50 Economic Developer Award.
  • Jake Brown (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a new role as an events assistant with ESPN Events.
  • Madison Butler (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) was promoted to manager, operations planning with the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.
  • Dylan Caruana (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a new role as a graduate assistant with the University at Buffalo men's basketball team.
  • Madison Cobb (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new role as social media coordinator with the United Soccer League, based at league headquarters in Tampa.
  • Courtney Clearfield (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘25) accepted a new position as a merchandise assistant position at URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly) for their Terrain brand.
  • Margaret David (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a new role as marketing and promotions coordinator for the Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
  • Brandon Easler (Sport and Entertainment Management, '21, Graduate Certificate in Interscholastic Athletic Administration, '25) accepted a new role as the athletic director at Coastal Christian High School.
  • Claire Edwards (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management '19, Master of Sport and Entertainment Managemen,t '20) was promoted to assistant manager of retail with Fanatics for the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC.
  • Audrey Elmendorf (Hospitality Management, '25) accepted a new position as social media intern with Pinckney Harmon Marketing in Charlotte.
  • Alyssa Flink (Tourism Management, '23) started a new role as sports and events coordinator with Visit Phoenix.
  • Cassie Geer (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) was promoted to senior manager of business development with Zawyer Savannah. Zawyer Sports owns, manages, and operates the Jacksonville Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, Greensboro Gargoyles, 32 Degrees Marketing, Community First Igloo, Charlotte Checkers, and Gastonia Ghost Peppers.
  • Simone Harris (Retailing, '25) will pursue her master’s degree in human resource management at George Washington University.
  • Elliott Herring (Hospitality Management, '25) will be joining Marriott International through their MDP Voyager Program with a concentration in banquets and events at the Westin Georgetown in Washington, D.C.
  • Olivia Hyatt (Sport and Entertainment Management, '11) was selected as one of the 2025 Columbia Regional Business Report Forty Under 40.
  • Cameron Jones (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a full-time position as a music central assistant at William Morris Endeavor in their Manhattan office.
  • Maggie Jones (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new role as event executive with Octagon in Charlotte. She will be working exclusively on The Home Depot's 2026 FIFA World Cup sponsorship.
  • Victor Kidd (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, '19) started a new role with the NBA as advisor - mental performance and referee wellness.
  • Parker Knight (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) will begin the MBA/MSEM combination degree offered by HRSM and the Darla Moore School of Business.
  • Karli Lambert (Hospitality Management, '25) accepted a new position as an administrative coordinator in event and conference management with MassMutual in Boston.
  • Isabella Larson (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a new role as special events program supervisor for the Town of Surf City, North Carolina.
  • Mac Madden (Retailing - Retail Management, '25) accepted a new position as a client advisor with Louis Vuitton.
  • Tim Marshall (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management '20, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management '21) accepted a new position as account manager with Integrity 9 Sports & Entertainment.
  • Annika Mayers (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) accepted a new position as communications coordinator with the LPGA.
  • Kenzie McCarter (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) was promoted to associate director of digital marketing with Sony Music - Essential Worship.
  • Madelin McLean (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new role as team logistics and operations assistant with the Cleveland Browns.
  • Grant Musselman (Tourism Management) accepted a new role as poker room supervisor with Caesars Virginia.
  • AJ Myers (Sport and Entertainment Management, '22) accepted a new role as event manager at Colonial Life Arena.
  • Isabella Nearhood (Retailing, '25) will be pursuing her master’s degree in international hospitality management at Florence (Italy) University of the Arts.
  • Jayda Pak (Hospitality Management, '25) accepted a new position as membership experience coordinator at the Buckhead Club in Atlanta.
  • Sydney Perrin (Hospitality Management, '24) accepted a position as the member events manager at Hideaway Beach Club in Marco Island, Florida.
  • Dylan Reeve (Sport and Entertainment Management, '23) accepted a new position as a membership services representative with the Columbus Crew.
  • Tyler Restrepo (Sport and Entertainment Management, '18) was promoted to director of stadium operations with the Columbia Fireflies.
  • Patrick Sain (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a new role as operations manager with Eventive Sports for the newly announced Colonial Life Charity Classic in Columbia.
  • Ella Schuhmacher (B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management '21, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management '23) graduated from the International Association of Venue Managers’ Venue Management School.
  • Andrew Sheppard (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) accepted a new role as athletics coordinator with the City of Orangeburg Parks and Recreation Department.
  • Nina Stallworth (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '25) accepted a new role as retail e-commerce intern with Golden Hippo.
  • Sophia Stampone (Hospitality Management, '25) will be starting the Voyage Program with Marriott International, working in a managerial role in the food and beverage department at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad in New York City.
  • Josh Strickland (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management), in his role as executive vice president of Vig Pak, will help bring a sustainable Gamecock BRRR Box™ cooler to Columbia this fall.
  • Max Szostak (Sport and Entertainment Management, '25) started a new role as an account executive with Octagon.
  • Ava Uthoff (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, '24) began a new role as merchandise assistant with TJX Companies in the juniors fashion division.
  • Devon Watson (Sport and Entertainment Management, '24) accepted a seasonal equipment intern role with the Washington Commanders.
  • Di Zhang (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, '21) started a new position as protocol specialist at the World Games 2025 Chengdu.

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