McCormack Faculty Success

Nefertiti Walker Named Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Equity at the UMass President's Office

A McCormack professor and former Isenberg associate dean, Nefertiti Walker, PhD, has served as deputy vice president for academic affairs, student affairs, and equity since July 2023, following her role as presidential advisor for equity and inclusion. She joined the UMass President’s Office in January 2022 while also serving as vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMass Amherst. 

Calvin Nite Named SMAANZ Fellow

Calvin Nite, PhD, associate professor and one of McCormack's new faculty members this year, was recognized as a Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) Fellow. He is the first SMAANZ Fellow on our faculty and one of only nine individuals in our field to receive this distinction. This prestigious award honors research excellence and dedicated service, celebrating those who have shown a long-term commitment to advancing the organization and its mission. 

F1 Academy Research Partnership: Nicole Melton and Katie Sveinson

Nicole Melton, PhD, McCormack professor and department chair, and Katie Sveinson, PhD, McCormack assistant professor, continued their research partnership with the Wasserman Collective, F1, and the F1 Academy in 2024. Melton and Sveinson attended the Miami and Dutch Grands Prix, collecting new data and insights. 

Ajhanai Keaton Named NASSS 2024 Research Fellow

Ajhanai Keaton, PhD, assistant professor and new McCormack faculty member, was named a North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) Research Fellow in 2024. To qualify as a fellow, a candidate must have a continuous and high quality record of scholarship, including no less than ten published journal articles and twenty conference presentations.