2006-07 MS/MBA Student Bio's (2nd Year)
George Cox
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: University of Washington
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Business Administration (2002)
Previous Experience: Marketing Manager for a group of nine golf properties in the greater Seattle, WA area (4yrs)
Career Aspirations: Professional sports marketing and branding
Why UMass?: “I looked at three main criteria when making my graduate program decision: faculty expertise in the industry, alumni networks and a real-world approach to the sports/business curriculum. UMass clearly stood out in each area.”
Kevin Donovan
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: University of Chicago
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Economics (2003)
Previous Experience: Senior equity trader for a Chicago trading services company focusing on oil, housing and energy sectors; 4-yr varsity soccer player
Career Aspirations: Sports finance or marketing for a professional team or
league office
Why UMass?: “The ability to get two degrees from two top programs through the UMass MBA/MS Sport Management dual-degree was really attractive.”
Rebecca Fagan
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Connecticut College
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Human Development (2003)
Previous Experience: Connecticut College Asst. Women’s Rowing Coach; Boulder Sprints Event Director; University of Colorado Interim Program Director & Head Women’s Rowing Coach; Connecticut College 4-yr varsity athlete & Rowing Team captain
Career Aspirations: Intercollegiate athletics and administration
Why UMass?: “School reputation, alumni and degree offerings like the UMass dual-degree program were the key components of my UMass decision.”
Glen Herold
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: The Pennsylvania State University
Undergraduate Major: B.S. Management Science and Information Systems (2002)
Previous Experience: Management Consulting; Deloitte Consulting (3 years), Pyramid Consulting Group (1 year)
Career Aspirations: Professional Sports (Marketing, Consulting)
Why UMass?: “In addition to the reputation of the Sport Management program and its faculty, the opportunity to also earn an M.B.A. to supplement my existing business experience really set UMass apart from its competition.”
Heather LaVine
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Bryn Mawr College
Undergraduate Major: B.A. History (2000)
Previous Experience: Director of Media Relations for the Adirondack Lumberjacks Professional Baseball; Grades 3-6 & ESL teacher in the Washington D.C. Public School District
Career Aspirations: Professional baseball business operations
Why UMass?: “My professional baseball business operations goals placed particular importance on faculty industry experience and alumni networks like those at UMass.”
Lindsey Pilver
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Vassar College
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Economics, Correlate in Art History (2004)
Previous Experience: Sightlines LLC Consultant, Athletic facilities operations for Mount Holyoke College
Career Aspirations: College athletics administration, Professional sports
Why UMass?: "UMass has a nationally recognized sport management program that offers the
flexibility to shape a curriculum that suites my interests."
Alexandra Roberts
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Emory University
Undergraduate Major: B.A. International Studies, B.A. Italian Studies (2002)
Previous Experience: Logistics Coordinator & National Security Analyst for the Science Applications International Corp.; Asst. Lacrosse Coach Mount Holyoke College; Sports Information Director Asst.
Career Aspirations: Amateur sport management
Why Umass?: “UMass’ premier reputation and the responsiveness of faculty to student needs helped me make my decision.”
Caitlin Rothstein
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: University of Michigan
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Sport Management and Communications (2002)
Previous Experience: University of Michigan Athletic Department -
Intern; John Hancock Sport Marketing Department – Intern; Anheuser-
Busch - Special Events Team Coordinator, Contemporary Marketing Representative, Merchandiser, Sales Representative
Career Aspirations: To work for a corporate sponsor or agency, leveraging sport sponsorship through events.
Why UMass?: “I came to UMass because of its renowned Sport
Management Department, as well as the school's proximity to both
Boston and New York. UMass not only offered the dual degree program, but the curriculum encourages a wide variety of study within the sports field.”
Karina C. Siam
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: University of California, San Diego
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Human Development, Undergraduate Certificate in Business (2005)
Previous Experience: NCAA Governance Intern; Founder & Director of San
Diego-area youth athletics program; UCSD Athletic Department Marketing Intern
Career Aspirations: Event Management/Operations
Why UMass?: "The UMass Sport Management program offers its students
exposure to diverse opportunities within the sports industry. The
program's proven connections and esteemed faculty combined with the MBA
dual-degree program made UMass an excellent choice for me."
Kari Stark
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Southern Illinois University
Undergraduate Major: B.S. Marketing (2005)
Previous Experience: NCAA Branding & Communications Intern; United States Olympic Committee NGB intern
Career Aspirations: Amateur sports marketing and event planning
Why Umass?: "When looking at various programs, I found UMass' close proximity and ties with
major sports areas, faculty focus, career development, and strong MBA and MS
programs to be critical."
Scott Whitbeck
Student Status: First-year dual degree
Alma Mater: Kalamazoo College
Undergraduate Major: B.A. Economics and Business, Minor in Psychology Accounting (2004)
Previous Experience: College of Wooster Asst. Swim Coach & Aquatics Director; UMass Men’s & Women’s Asst. Swim Coach
Career Aspirations: College Athletics
Why UMass?: "I came to UMass because of the MBA and Sport Management program's
reputations. I'm interested in college athletics and UMass offers me
great opportunities to work in a big-time division one school."