Nicole Melton Honored as 2026 NASSM Award Winner

Nicole Melton, associate dean for undergraduate programs and professor of sport management, was recently honored with the 2026 Joy DeSensi Award for Inclusive Excellence by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). This award recognizes exceptional contributions to promote diversity and inclusion within NASSM, in academia, and in the broader sport management landscape. 

This isn’t Melton’s first award for her commitment to inclusivity – in 2025, she was honored with a UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentoring Award, with colleagues crediting her for fostering a collaborative, inclusive academic environment during her tenure as chair of the McCormack Department of Sport Management. 

Current department chair Matt Katz expressed his appreciation for Melton and his excitement about this recognition. “We are so fortunate to have a faculty member like Dr. Nicole Melton,” he said. “Her commitment to inclusive excellence through research, teaching, service, and leadership has made a meaningful difference in the lives of her students, colleagues, and collaborators. This wonderful recognition reflects the importance of Dr. Melton’s contributions. She is an elite researcher, caring colleague, and transformative leader. Her contributions elevate our department, college, and academic community.”