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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Danah Aloufi, Matt Chernesky, Tyshawn Hundley and Lauren Oliva, featured in the September 2026 HRSM News and Notes.

September 2026 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: September 8, 2026; Updated on: September 8, 2026
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty and Staff Notes

  • Congratulations to School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Professor Lori Pennington-Gray on being awarded a Fulbright Specialist tenure for 3 years!
  • Congratulations to HRSM Vice Dean of Finance & Operations and Chief Financial Officer Scott Kaplan on 30 years of teaching 101! Year 31 is underway for Scott, teaching two classes this semester.
  • Congratulations to David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Professor Emeritus Andy Gillentine on the publication of his book, The Allegory of the Bow Tie: How Small Acts of Courage Create Big Changes.
  • Welcome to new HRSM Director of Marketing and Brand Identity Kimberly Massey!

Student Notes

  • Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of the Dawn Staley Leadership Academy!
  • Danah Aloufi (Tourism Management) has been chosen to serve as President of the USC Saudi Student Association.
  • Alex Batchelder (Sport and Entertainment Management) will be working with Gamecocks Football as a game day intern for on-campus recruiting this fall!
  • Olivia Branson (Retailing - Retail Management) started a new position as a part-time keyholder and party curator for the new Petite Party Shop opening on Devine Street.
  • Retailing students Clare Ehnes, Ashley Geller, Carly Goldberg, Meadow Motroni and Morgan Silverman worked with Ralph Lauren in NYC to support the setup of retail operations at the (tennis) U.S. Open.
  • Blake Johnson ((Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) will be working with the Gamecock Club as a hospitality ambassador this football season.
  • Theodore Molthen (Retailing - Retail Management) started a retail operations internship with Gamecock iHub.
  • Jarad Plyer (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new role with Tailgate Group for this fall.
  • Noah Reyes (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted an offer to join Colonial Life Arena as a box office intern.
  • Katelyn Vetro (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) started a new position as member recruiter for AFA Staffing.

Alumni Notes

  • Tyler Applonie (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘08) accepted a new role as vice president of business sales with Verizon Business.
  • Jakhi Brown (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘26) began a new role as assistant director of intramurals with USC Upstate Campus Recreation.
  • Brittany Brumbles (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘24) joined the American Honda Motor Company Corporate Social Responsibility team as the community engagement specialist for the Carolinas.
  • Matt Chernesky (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘22) set a Columbia Fireflies franchise record for highest single season group tickets and total revenue for a sales representative.
  • Kristy Dietze (Retailing, ‘98) started a new role as vice president merchandising with Books A Million.
  • Kayla Feldman (Retailing, ‘25) started a new position as merchandise assistant - men’s & kids shoes at Belk.
  • Ryan Hays (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘26) joined the New York Islanders as a community relations intern.
  • Tyshawn Hundley (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘26, graduate certificate in interscholastic athletic administration in progress) will be an on-campus recruiting intern with Gamecocks Football season.
  • Lisa Jenkins (Integrated Information Technology, ‘92) started a new role as senior data scientist/exploitation specialist with Thomas & Herbert Consulting.
  • Rick Lackland (Hospitality Management, ‘86) began a new role as vice president of the Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Luke Mashburn (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘11) was recognized as one of Pope High School’s 40 Distinguished Greyhounds as part of his high school alma mater’s 40th anniversary celebration.
  • Jack McFadden (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) a new role as warehouse & retail operations assistant at The Sea Pines Resort!
  • Cameron Moss (Sport and Entertainment Management, '07) started a new role as vice president of national booking with Venue Coalition.
  • Lauren Oliva (Hospitality Management ‘12, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, ‘14) was named Hospitality America Hotelier of the Year.
  • Neal Olsgaard (Sport and Entertainment Management) was selected as a member of the Leadership Columbia Class of 2027.
  • Jisset Pena (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘08) was recognized by The Daily Record as a 2026 Maryland Hispanic Leadership Awards honoree in the business category.
  • Emily Reichling (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘25) started a new position as match day ticketing & fan engagement associate at Carolina Ascent FC.
  • Andrea Merisotis Snow (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘08) joined the team at Career Education Colleges and Universities  as chief legal officer.
  • Will Wrenn (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘26) began a new role as inside and group sales manager for the Minot Hot Tots and Honeybees.

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