Shaping the Future of Sport Management through Education and Equity

Ashley Sloper, Ed.D., Associate Director and Head of Professional Development, Sport Management, University of San Francisco

Ashley Sloper is dedicated to transforming education into purposeful career pathways. With a background in higher education leadership and community engagement, she bridges academic learning with real-world experience, empowering students to discover careers that align with their values and strengths. Her work has helped shape sport management as a platform for meaningful growth and lifelong connection.

Aligning Enrollment Strategy with Career Outcomes

Enrollment management and professional development are deeply interconnected in sustaining the growth and reputation of the sport management program. In today’s higher education landscape, shaped by rising costs, evolving job markets and shifting public attitudes, prospective students seek more than a degree. They expect tangible career outcomes and real-world preparation.

To remain competitive and uphold our standing as one of the leading sport management programs globally, we must consistently highlight the professional opportunities and successes of our students and alumni. Their achievements are the truest measure of our impact. USF sport management alumni now work across professional leagues, collegiate athletics, governing bodies, agencies and media organizations. Their collective success reinforces the quality of our curriculum and the enduring value of a USF education.

Together, strategic enrollment and robust professional development initiatives allow us to attract high-caliber students, prepare graduates to lead in the industry and sustain our strong reputation within the global sport community.

Embedding Real-World Experience into Every Stage of Education

Experiential learning has long been a cornerstone of the program. Students are expected to gain hands-on experience alongside coursework, allowing academic theory and professional practice to intersect in real time. This approach ensures that what they learn in the classroom is immediately observed, applied and reflected upon in the field.

Beyond the required experiential component, our faculty and staff cultivate partnerships across the sports industry, giving students access to leaders and organizations that can shape their professional journeys. We emphasize that networking is not an optional skill—it’s an essential part of success in this field. To reinforce this, we integrate industry professionals into the classroom as adjunct faculty, guest lecturers and project collaborators.

“To remain competitive and uphold our standing as one of the leading sport management programs globally, we must consistently highlight the professional opportunities and successes of our students and alumni. Their achievements are the truest measure of our impact.”

Our students also benefit from a deeply engaged alumni network that serves as both a professional resource and a supportive community. Through the Alumni Mentor Program, now serving more than 150 student–alumni pairs annually, students receive personalized guidance on career exploration, professional growth and the job search process.

The creation of our Alumni Advisory Board has further strengthened these connections, offering structured pathways for mentorship, professional engagement and collaboration between students, alumni and employers. This board bridges the gap between classroom learning and industry realities, ensuring we remain responsive to evolving trends and workforce needs.

Equally important is our responsibility to the organizations that hire our students. Acting in partnership with industry leaders means preparing graduates who are qualified, capable and ready to contribute from day one. Continuous communication with hiring managers provides invaluable feedback on the skills and mindsets needed for the next generation of sport professionals, keeping our curriculum and advising aligned with both student aspirations and employer expectations.

Creating Inclusive Pathways for Every Student to Thrive

As a Jesuit institution, USF is consistently recognized as one of the most diverse universities in the nation, our mission of cura personalis “care for the whole person” guides everything we do, from curriculum design to student support. It means nurturing students’ intellectual, personal and professional growth in an inclusive, equitable way.

Success takes many forms. For one student, it might mean building confidence to present in public; for another, earning a promotion or leading a team. In practice, this means designing programming that supports holistic development and removes barriers to participation. I’ve always tried to connect institutional goals with individual student experiences through initiatives like paid internships, mentorship programs and advisory board engagement, particularly for students from underrepresented or nontraditional backgrounds. Everyone deserves to feel that they belong and have the resources to succeed.

What I love most about working in sport management is how the field provides a platform for conversations about justice and equity, especially for athletes of color, whose contributions form the foundation of much of the industry. Few spaces outside of sport unite people across such diverse backgrounds, beliefs and values. I want students to see how their work in sport can drive social impact and embody USF’s mission to “change the world from here.”

Ultimately, my goal is to help students leave this program not just career-ready, but community-minded. Sport is more than an industry, it’s a space where leadership, inclusion and justice converge. That is what makes working at USF so meaningful for me.

Key Advice for Aspiring Leaders

My advice to other educators and administrators is simple. Start with your students. Understand who they are, what they hope to achieve and what they need from a graduate program. From there, design experiences that bridge academic learning with professional application. Recruitment, career preparation and professional development should work in concert to support student success.

Cultivating partnerships with industry professionals, alumni, and employers opens doors for students to network and ultimately thrive. Equally essential is viewing recruitment and development through an equity lens, recognizing that every student brings unique strengths and challenges. By removing barriers through paid opportunities, mentorship and inclusive networking, institutions can empower future leaders to enter the field ready to lead with purpose and create meaningful change.

Sports