Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2020 graduating seniors over the coming days. 

Major: Sport Management
Minor: Psychological Sciences

Extracurriculars: UConn Field Hockey DI Student-Athlete; UConn Athletics Marketing Department, intern; Husky Sport, staff; UConn Sport Business Association, member; UConn Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, team representative and International Student-Athlete Subcommittee e-board member.

Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany

Who is your favorite professor? One of my favorite professors at UConn was Dr. Joseph Cooper. He introduced me to the ongoing social injustices in sport that I had never thought about or been confronted with in my homogenous, predominantly white community at home in Germany. I was also fortunate enough to take EDLR 3547W with Dr. Evanovich my senior year, where I learned to think critically about myself, my white privilege, and the unequal opportunities that various social identities have in our society. This was my favorite class during my entire four years at UConn, as it was based on thought-provoking discussions and experiences that questioned existing injustices. I wish more students could get the chance to take this class.

What did you accomplish that you’re most proud of? My field hockey team and I accomplished an undefeated season with 23 wins to become the 2017 NCAA Division I National Champion my sophomore year. I’m extremely proud of this special team to make history while being so determined to successfully balance the countless hours of our sport with a full-time academic course load. Even though this is the biggest accomplishment in college sports, I’m most proud of the person I have become over these past four years. I learned a lot about myself and what impact I want to have in the future to make the world a more inclusive, equitable, and better place.

“During my time in the sport management program, I found my passion for emotional branding as well as in advocating against the ongoing injustices in our world.”

What do you plan to do after you graduate? During my time in the sport management program, I found my passion for emotional branding as well as in advocating against the ongoing injustices in our world. Going forward I want to explore ways of addressing and using social issues as a means to tie emotions into global branding. I realized that sport has the power to inspire people to take action and advance equality throughout society! That’s why with sport I want to push limits, break boundaries, and create a better future for ourselves, our athletes, and our communities. My dream is to do this with Nike one day.

How has UConn prepared you for your future career? The classes and professors at UConn have taught me valuable skills that make me confident in my abilities to be successful in my future workplace. Every experience I made here has shaped me into the person I am today and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. UConn has helped me identify the purpose I currently see for myself in life and I cannot wait to go out and work hard for it.

What advice would you give to a student who is just starting out? Use the opportunities and resources that are presented and available to you and don’t shy away from getting out of your comfort zone. Get involved, there is so much that you can do that will benefit you personally while at the same time build your resume. Build relationships and mentorships with your classmates and professors and start networking early. Last but not least, be present in every moment – these four years will fly by a lot faster than you think.