TAMPA — Two closely tied industries — tourism and sport management — are joining
forces at the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business.
Academic leaders announced the merger of the Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program with the college’s school of hospitality to form the new School of Hospitality and Sport Management.
“This strategic integration creates a dynamic academic alliance,” said David Blackwell, the Lynn Pippenger Dean at the business college. “It combines the strengths of both
programs to enhance our curriculum, advance research initiatives, and prepare our
students for multi-faceted careers in sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism.”
The HospitaBull event.
Vinik students inside the Bucs’ practice facility.
The Brewing Arts Program.
The merged school will launch in fall 2025 with a new name and a new school director. Blackwell appointed Lydia Hanks to lead the school. Hanks most recently was the
J. Willard Marriott Senior Professor of Hospitality at Florida State University, where
she served since 2012.
In the works for more than a year, the merger will provide students on all three campuses
a more extensive range of career pathways and a global perspective on the interconnectedness
of these industries.
“The new school will create a powerhouse of research and training in sports, hospitality
and tourism,” said Brooke Hansen, associate director of the School of Hospitality and Sport Management. “Sports tourism
accounts for one quarter of the world’s tourism industry, and we have a strong corner
on that market here in the Tampa Bay region.”
Other benefits include:
- Greater flexibility for students to tailor their academic paths and specialize in
their areas of interest - Opportunities for interdisciplinary studies and research addressing complex challenges
within the sectors - Joint conferences and events
- More connections with industry partners and opportunities for internships and collaborative
projects.
The new school will also house USF’s Brewing Arts Program, an online certificate program that is based on the St. Petersburg campus and taught
by a hospitality professor.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usf.edu ’
