Facilitating Learning and Connections: The NASSM Student Engagement Initiative
By: Swarali Patil
Swarali Patil serves the NASSM Student Board as a representative on the Marketing & Communications Committee. Swarali is a PhD Candidate in Sport Management & Leadership at Western University. Her research focuses on building capacity for women in sport. Connect with Swarali at spatil6@uwo.ca | @Swarali_Patil2 | www.linkedin.com/in/SwaraliPatil
The NASSM Student Engagement Initiative was designed to offer sport management students the opportunity to access professional development sessions and social engagement sessions throughout the year. The initiative was inaugurated in the 2020-2021 academic year, under the purview of former NASSM Student Board President, Georgia Teare (PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa). The initiative was well received by students and faculty members, prompting the NASSM Student Board to continue hosting sessions in the 2021-2022 academic year.
One engagement session is hosted each month, from September to May. The focus of each session is determined based on relevance to sport management students and the current climate, general student interest and feedback, and brainstorming between NASSM Student Board members. Sessions lasting approximately an hour are held virtually and are free to attend. Each Student Board member is tasked with planning, developing, and hosting one session.
Planning and developing an engagement initiative session involves several steps:
Conducting background research on the topic
Determining the format of the session (i.e., workshop or panel discussion)
Identifying and inviting one or several subject experts to be a part of the session
Finalizing the panel member(s), a date, and time for the session
Developing a list of guiding questions based on background research and student interest
Promoting the session on NASSM email and social media platforms
Inviting registrations from sport management students
The Student Board member responsible also moderates the session, ensuring the invited panel member(s) receive(s) ample opportunity to answer questions posed. One Student Board member takes notes during the session and another moderates the chat for student feedback and questions. Post-session, notes and resources are emailed to all registered participants, along with a link to a short feedback survey. Feedback received is incorporated into future sessions, to make improvements and provide a better experience.
The 2021-2022 academic year’s Student Engagement Initiative began in September with a ‘Back to School’ student social. This session was hosted by Student Board President, Kerri Bodin (PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa). The next Student Engagement Initiative was held on October 29th and focused on providing students with academic and industry-related perspectives on the job market and tips on networking and building meaningful connections. I planned and hosted this session, with help from other NASSM Student Board members.
Classroom to Industry Connection – Transferable Skills and Career Options
Prof. Jess Dixon (University of Windsor), Dr. Joyce Olushola Ogunrinde (University of Houston), Dr. David Patterson (US Olympic & Paralympic Committee), and Dr. Cynthia Veraldo (Mount St. Joseph University) spoke on the October panel. The discussion began with taking stock of the opportunities available in academia and industry. Panel members identified academic roles and provided a myriad of examples for roles within industry, such as national and provincial sport organizations, smaller boutique sport agencies, facilities and stadiums, parks and recreation departments, intercollegiate sports, sponsor agencies, and apparel and equipment companies. Other highlights from the session are provided below.
It is never too early to start in this competitive industry
Put yourself out there to learn what you like and what you hate
Reflect on your desired learning outcomes and identify organizations that will help you get there
Begin your job and/or internship search as soon as possible and take advantage of volunteering and part-time work to build experience
Match job/internship search with research interests (e.g., if a student is interested in event management, volunteering at a local event could provide valuable experience)
Ensure value and learning is gained from an experience, even if the role does not come with monetary benefits
Identify what you are good at, what your strengths are, and find positions that fit that
Advanced degrees like a Master’s or PhD are tools that equip students with transferable skills (e.g., reading, writing, analyzing, and synthesizing information) and provide employers with a snapshot of the candidate’s abilities (i.e., project management, resilience, self-driven)
Keep multiple CVs and cover letters ready
Read job descriptions carefully and mimic that language to tailor CVs and cover letters
Practice communicating academic language into easy-to-understand, non-technical language
Ask about opportunities in organizations you are interested in working at; that organization may be able/willing to create a position for you
It’s not who you know but who knows you
Connect with course lecturers, to understand and potentially get involved with their research and/or industry related work
Guest lectures, conferences, or events like the engagement initiative sessions are valuable venues to meet peers and experts
Connect with experts in meaningful ways: Be kind and respectful, stick to the point, and ask relevant questions
Request 10-15 minutes for a meeting instead of sending a long, wordy email
Physical thank-you notes are a recommended way to stand out from the crowd
For a complete version of the notes from the October 2021 Student Engagement Initiative session, please email students@nassm.org. For more details on the NASSM Student Engagement Initiative, please visit NASSM.org. To register for upcoming NASSM Engagement Initiative sessions, please follow NASSM on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.