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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Composite graphic featuring four HRSM community members: faculty member Jasmine Carter, chef and alumnus William Dissen, sport and entertainment management student Jack Pelkowski and student Ruby Wallace, each shown in professional headshots.

March 2026 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: March 6, 2026; Updated on: March 6, 2026
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty and Staff Notes

  • 89 HRSM faculty and staff members received 2025 Career Champion Awards, given by the USC Career Center based on nominations from students.
  • Jasmine Carter was selected as a finalist for the M. Stuart Hunter University 101 Teaching Award. She is one of just 12 finalists, chosen from more than 700 nominations for 250 instructors.
  • Kimberly Chamberlain, Becky Moran, Cierra Pinckney and Alissa Samek were also nominated for the M. Stuart Hunter University 101 Teaching Award.
  • Retired Professor Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds has launched "Stay Sporty," a podcast series dedicated to celebrating professional growth and exploring the sports and entertainment industry through authentic conversations. Sporty's first guest is HRSM alumna Jessica O'Neill, now President of Business Operations for the Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC.
  • Terry (Haekyung) Kim’s article, “AI influencers' humanlikeness, trust and relationships among female consumers,” was published in the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.
  • Cortney Norris will be part of a keynote panel for the Feb. 27-28 PRSSA conference hosted by the USC College of Information and Communications. The conference this year is focused on PR in the hospitality industry.
  • Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana began serving as faculty advisor for the USC Bangladesh Student Association.
  • Md. Rafiqul Islam Rana represented HRSM at the Sourcing at MAGIC conference in Las Vegas as a part of the Dean’s Innovation Grant.
  • Kathy Smiling was recognized by USC Athletics as a 2026 Community Trailblazer for outstanding support and service to USC student-athletes.
  • Kathy Smiling served as a panelist for the Leadership Panel Discussion at the 2026 Drive-In Conference hosted by USC Athletics.
  • Stephanie Taylor received a Thank a Teacher Letter of Appreciation, given by the USC Career Center based on nominations from students.
  • Mike Watson was chosen to participate in the Guest Coach program for USC Women's Basketball on Senior Night.

Student Notes

  • The following students were chosen as the newest cohort of HRSM Leaders after a competitive application and interview process: Hillary Allen, Hayden Anderson, Reagan Audi, Alicia Bennett, Palmer Boozer, Makayla Clay, Paige Davis, Christian Dolan, Coco Farrell, Tara Flood, Carmella Foxgrover O'Malley, Charley Gless, Kameron Gooch, Sophia Grausso, Kelly Gristwood, Gracie Guenthner, Sophia Gullo, Avery Haugh, Ava Honeycutt, Grace Karle, Erin Keefe, Kaleb Kelly, Ryan Kelpie, Addie Kosek, Susanna McCormick, Zoey Meyer, Ann Nagel, Kendra Niewczyk, Cat Omer, Anthony Perricone, Will Prunty, Mariam Rezkalla, Mallory Riske, Emmy Ross, Ellie Sadlier, Margaret Smith, Brooke Ufland, and Adelle Vincent.
  • A team of David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management master's students earned first place in the Graduate Case Cup competition at the Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA) Conference in Philadelphia.
  • Chloe Acker (Hospitality Management) accepted a food and beverage internship at Boca West Country Club for this summer.
  • Mary Madison Alton (Hospitality Management) accepted an internship in the membership department at Seabrook Island Club for this summer.
  • Kayla Bacon (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining Firecracker Sports this summer as a game day operations intern.
  • Mason Bednarz (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as football operations/athletic training intern with Gamecock Athletics.
  • Lana Browning (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a Busch Gardens Summer Leadership Internship in ride operations.
  • Taylor Burger (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a full-time position at The Gamecock Club with the premium seating and events team to begin after graduation.
  • Jefferson Campbell (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a premium hospitality internship with the Columbia Fireflies.
  • Ava Catelotti (Sport and Entertainment Management)  will be joining the New England PGA as a summer 2026 junior TOUR intern.
  • Madison Coll (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Philadelphia Phillies as a ticket services intern this season.
  • Sarah Connell (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a tournament operations internship with the  Southern Ohio PGA for this summer.
  • Samantha Diaz (Sport and Entertainment Management) was selected as a credentialed part-time security guard with CSC for the FIFA World Cup matches this summer at MetLife Stadium.
  • Paige Elleo (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an offer from Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. to be a ticketing, pricing & strategy student associate this summer in New York City.
  • Ryan Fitzgerald (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Adirondack Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, this summer as a group sales intern.
  • Reid Grizzle (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a sales associate position with the Nashville Predators to begin after graduation.
  • Nick Irvine (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate.
  • Riley James (Sport and Entertainment Management) began a social media and marketing internship with Ascension Athletes.
  • Jemyah Jones (Hospitality Management), as a member of the national board for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, spoke during the opening session of the NSMH national conference, led a Western Regional session, hosted an “Ask a Recruiter Anything” panel and helped create meaningful moments for attendees.
  • Caroline Kaelin (Hospitality Management) accepted a food and beverage internship with Marriott Vacations Worldwide at Marriott's Grande Ocean in Hilton Head Island.
  • Liam Olsen (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a ticket sales internship with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL for this summer.
  • Jack Pelkowski (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be joining the Philadelphia Phillies this summer as a ticket services intern.
  • Jack Peyser (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer internship with Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.
  • Tamar Posin (Sport and Entertainment Management) received a Gamecock on the Rise award for her work with USC Recreation Services.
  • Olivia Poteat (Hospitality Management) passed the Introductory Sommelier Course Examination through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
  • Michael Pugh (Retailing - Retail Management) accepted a planning and allocation analyst internship with Burlington Stores at the company’s corporate headquarters in New Jersey.
  • Madeline Ricciardi (Retailing - Retail Management) accepted an offer to join the Macy's 2026 Internship Program as a store management intern.
  • Sara Robertson (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer employee benefits internship with NFP, an Aon company.
  • Bryson Root (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an event operations/sales internship with the Charlotte Crown through Zawyer Sports & Entertainment  for the summer.
  • Holly Sage (Hospitality Management) accepted a position as a sports manager in development at The Club at Ibis to begin following graduation in May.
  • Madi Schnepfe (Tourism Management) accepted a full-time role as an account and activations manager at Ignite Productions.
  • Juston Slate (Sport and Entertainment Management) attended the American Junior Golf Association’s 2026 Intern Recruiting Weekend. He was one of the 107 candidates selected from a pool of over 1,300 applicants to participate in the final stage of the hiring process.
  • Olivia Sucansky (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) earned a position as a sales intern for this summer with LM Brands.
  • Liam Sullivan (Hospitality Management) passed the Introductory Sommelier Course Examination through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
  • Jack Travis (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a role with the Charlotte Hornets as an inside sales representative.
  • Laurel Tucker (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer position with the Columbus Crew as a ticket operations match day employee.
  • Ruby Wallace (Sport and Entertainment Management) was accepted into HRSM’s Master of Sport and Entertainment program, to begin in fall 2026.
  • Brianna Watts (Sport and Entertainment Management) was named Tutor/Academic Coach (TAC) of the Month at the Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center.
  • Savanna Warren (Hospitality Management) accepted a food and beverage manager in training internship at the Cassique Clubhouse at Kiawah Island Club.
  • Irelyn Worontsoff (Sport and Entertainment Management) was accepted into HRSM’s Master of Sport and Entertainment program, to begin in fall 2026.

Alumni Notes

  • Kwame Agyei-Minta (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘23) was promoted to assistant director of scouting with Gamecock Football.
  • Lauren Allen (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) started a new role with Nancy Lieberman Charities as a program coordinator.
  • Kendell Collins (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘23) joined VMGROUPE as an account manager in New York City.
  • Current Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D. candidate Colleen Dibble and alumna Grace Kazmierski-Davie (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) presented their research on fan motivation and women’s basketball at the Applied Sport Management Association conference.
  • William Dissen (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, ‘06) was named 2026 Restaurateur of the Year by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association.
  • Savannah Douglas (Hospitality Management, '24) started a new role as sales coordinator for the TOUR Championship, the PGA TOUR’s season finale.
  • Jarett Gerald (Sport and Entertainment Management ‘11, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management '15) started a new position as assistant athletics director, major gifts at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
  • Kellianne Venit Griffis (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘18) started a new role as director of sporting and team operations with St. Louis City Soccer Club of MLS.
  • Peyton Hunter (Tourism Management, ‘22) started a new role as senior marketing and communications coordinator at McAngus Goudelock & Courie.
  • Corey Jones (Hospitality Management, '14) was selected as a creator fellow in the Blavity Creator Collective Fellowship.
  • Jessie Lessin (Sport and Entertainment Management, '18) was named 212NYC's Q1 2026 Rising Star. 212NYC is New York’s leading organization for the digital advertising industry, reaching over 5,000 digital media, marketing and advertising professionals.
  • Katelyn Lisznyai (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘24) accepted the role of director of creative services and production with the Quad Cities River Bandits, the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
  • Riley Phillips (Hospitality Management, '25) started a new position as event manager at Patrick Properties Hospitality Group.
  • Charlie Queen (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) started as an account executive for premium & membership sales with the Seattle Kraken.
  • Haley Rea (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘19) worked her fifth Super Bowl with CSC, where she is now director of internal development.
  • Jacob Reinhardt (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) accepted a new role  as a championship hospitality services assistant with the PGA of America.
  • Brandon Ruth (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘11) was promoted to VP, team operations with the Atlanta Falcons.
  • Emma Smith (Hospitality Management, '25) completed her training and is officially  a travel sales specialist with AAA The Auto Club Group.
  • Lauren Xu (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘16) started a new position as merchandise manager at Serena & Lily.

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