Where Hospitality Meets Hustle: The Jenny Dell Playbook

The Isenberg School of Management’s Hospitality and Tourism Department (HTM) catchphrase #HTMPossibilities sets the stage for endless career opportunities and diverse pathways to success. Jenny Dell ’08 has cultivated a career that shows how far an Isenberg degree can take you—including all the way to a 2025 Sports Emmy nomination.

Dell combined her two passions—sport management and HTM—during her time at UMass Amherst to create a custom major in sports event marketing. She launched her on-air career with early beginnings as a production assistant for ESPN in 2008 and later became the Red Sox sideline reporter at NESN—a role suited for the lifelong sports fan. Today, Dell is a CBS Sports lead college football reporter and studio personality—anchoring for “CBS Sports HQ” and covering Big Ten college football alongside Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson on the “CBS Game of the Week.”

Dell is known for covering a variety of major sport events, from The Masters and the World’s Strongest Man competitions to NCAA basketball. She remains an active Isenberg alumna and continues to give back through an endowed scholarship, hosting the HTM Annual Awards Dinner and providing mentorship to students.

What attracted you to studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at Isenberg?
I’ve always been a people person—I love connecting with others and creating memorable experiences. I also genuinely loved planning events, organizing the details, and bringing people together, which made Hospitality and Tourism Management a natural fit. The HTM program at Isenberg felt like the perfect place to turn that passion into a career. I was drawn to the diversity of career paths within the industry and the real-world, hands-on approach to learning that Isenberg offered. The program’s strong reputation, combined with its supportive community of alumni and faculty, made it an easy choice for me.

Did you always see yourself working in sports media?
Growing up, sports were always a huge part of my life—whether I was watching, playing, or constantly talking about them. It was how my dad and I bonded: spending countless hours together cheering on our favorite teams. But it wasn’t until college that I realized I might actually want to build a career in sports. While at UMass, I interned with the Athletics Department, and that experience opened my eyes to a whole new world. It planted the seed that eventually grew into a true passion and led me to where I am today.

How did your HTM studies translate into the world of sports journalism?
The foundation I gained in hospitality—understanding how to serve, connect with, and lead people—translates beautifully into the media world. Whether I’m working with coaches, players, or producers, the ability to communicate clearly, stay organized, and handle high-pressure situations with professionalism all stems from my HTM background. It’s about making every interaction count, which is a core principle of both industries.

What should HTM students know about the opportunities that exist in sports, beyond team management or hotel/event roles?
There are so many doors in the sports world that HTM students might not immediately think of. Media, marketing, sponsorships, operations, sales, hospitality for athletes and VIPs, player relations—the list goes on. The skillsets HTM students develop are incredibly transferable. If you love sports, don’t limit yourself to the obvious paths. Stay curious, build your network, and be open to roles that might not have a clear title but offer amazing experiences.

Could you walk us through your journey from graduation to covering the NFL? What was your “breakthrough moment” in the sports media world?
After graduating, I started working at ESPN in production. It was the best possible training ground—learning the behind-the-scenes mechanics of live sporting events, feature producing, and understanding what it takes to bring stories to life on screen. I covered everything from the NBA and NFL to College Sports and even horse racing. That foundation was crucial in helping me see the full scope of what goes into a successful broadcast.

From there, I transitioned to NESN, where I became a Red Sox reporter. That role gave me a crash course in live television—especially in a passionate, high-pressure sports city like Boston. I learned how to think on my feet, build trust in a clubhouse, and connect with fans in real time.

My “breakthrough” moment came when I made the leap to CBS and joined the “NFL on CBS” team. I’ll be honest—I wasn’t quite ready when I started. But CBS believed in me. They stuck with me, invested in my growth, and helped me evolve into the reporter I am today. Now, I have the honor of covering college football alongside some of the most respected names in the industry, and I’m truly grateful for every step of the journey.

What’s been the most exciting or surreal moment of your career so far?
Being nominated for a Sports Emmy this year is definitely one of those surreal moments—it’s a full-circle moment that represents years of hard work, resilience, and growth. But beyond the awards, there are moments that live in your heart forever. Covering the Red Sox winning the World Series in 2013 was unforgettable—being part of that energy, that history—especially in a city like Boston—was incredibly special. Another moment I’ll never forget was being on the field for Alabama at Tennessee in 2022 when the fans stormed the field. The emotion, the chaos, the pure joy—it was college football at its absolute best.

It’s moments like those—interviewing players after career-defining wins, being on the sideline for iconic games, and sharing them with the people I work with and love—that mean the most. Those are the memories I truly cherish.

How do you stay connected with Isenberg and the HTM program?
I try to stay connected as much as possible—whether it’s speaking on panels, mentoring students, or simply cheering on the incredible work coming out of Isenberg. I’m proud to be an alumna and love seeing how the program continues to evolve and thrive. I serve on the Hospitality and Tourism Management Board, which gives me a front-row seat to the exciting direction the program is headed. I also host various events for the university, mentor HTM students, and speak at the Women of Isenberg conferences—something I’m especially passionate about. UMass and Isenberg played such a huge role in shaping my career path, and I’ll always look for ways to give back to the community that gave me so much.

• Learn more about the #HTMPossibilities here: https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/depts/htm
• Learn more about the Jenny Dell endowed scholarship here: https://umass.scalefunder.com/gday/giving-day/98035/set/7388