A new organization has joined the Pace University Pleasantville community. After hearing about a potential startup last semester, the Sports Marketing Association has finally launched on campus.
The club’s e-board consists of Starla Tejada as President, Faith Ruby as Vice President, Esha Modani as Treasurer, and Skyler Flynn as Secretary. These four students hope to bring something unique and exciting to Pace. The executive board was eager to answer a few questions and help people learn more about what they hope to offer.
The inspiration for this organization was “the desire to create a space where students interested in the sports industry could gain hands-on experience, build their professional network, and develop real-world marketing skills.” They feel that Pace, being a Division II school and having a fast-growing sports program both athletically and educationally, would be perfect for this type of organization.
The goal of the club is to give students the resources needed to survive and succeed in the ever-growing Sports Industry. The organization hopes to do this through hands-on projects, opportunities to network, and educational workshops. Through these opportunities, students could improve their skills and be prepared to enter the sports industry. Expect each meeting to be constantly evolving, just like the sports industry. During the meetings, they will delve into trends, industry developments, and new leagues. On a more personal level, there will be opportunities to work on resumes, internship strategies, and opportunities for both internships and networking.
If you are looking for an organization that will also have events, projects, etc., well, you’re in luck, because they have a lot planned. Some events and workshops they have planned include an Athlete Branding and NIL Workshop. Through this workshop, athletes will learn how to “build their brand and take advantage of Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities from a marketing perspective.”
In addition to all of this, they hope to have panels from industry professionals that will give insights, advice, and answer any questions students may have. There are more events, such as March Madness, the Super Bowl, and other sports matchup events, planned, but those are for the future. As the club is just starting this semester, expect most of these events to take form next semester.
If you are worried about joining the club because you are not a sports marketing major, do not worry; the Sports Marketing Association is open to any student who is interested in sports, marketing, media, and/or content creation. It does not matter what major you are. Though it is highly encouraged for student athletes to join and anyone in either a Sports Marketing Major or a Sports Broadcasting Minor. There will be a lot of opportunities to build a brand for yourself and be more prepared once you’re at the gates of the sports industry.
When asked about what makes them stand out from other organizations, the answer was quite simple yet very important. Sports Marketing Association is giving experiences that are not just hands-on, but can be applied to the real world, especially in the sports industry. These same projects can allow students to start their portfolios early while connecting with professionals and alumni in the field.
When asked about any long-term goals the organization has. The organization had plenty to say.
“Some of our long-term goals for the Sports Marketing Association Club are centered around growth, impact, and creating lasting opportunities for students. We aim to establish strong partnerships with local and professional sports teams to provide exclusive internship opportunities, hands-on projects, and networking events that will give our members a competitive edge in the field. For our members, we strive to build a community where they can strengthen their portfolios through real-world projects, internships, and collaborations with industry professionals. Additionally, we hope to help members develop essential skills in areas like content creation, digital marketing, branding, and event management, ensuring they are well-prepared for success in the sports marketing industry.”
With all that being said, If you have any interest in anything listed above, you should join the Sports Marketing Association! To stay updated on events and opportunities, follow them on Instagram @smapaceplv.