During their visit to the United Talent Agency and KLUTCH Sports Group in Atlanta, 11 sport management students pose for a group photo below a famous saying from early 20th-century Atlanta educator and orator Booker T. Washington.

The city of Atlanta is home to professional sports franchises in major leagues: Atlanta United FC (Major League Soccer), the Braves (Major League Baseball), Dream (WNBA), Falcons (NFL), and Hawks (NBA). Atlanta also features professional teams in lacrosse, rugby, and volleyball, along with a rich tradition of Division I collegiate sports with Georgia Tech and Georgia State.

In addition, Atlanta has hosted the biggest events in sports, including the Summer Olympics in 1996, four Super Bowls, and the NCAA Final Four women’s and men’s basketball championship, and it will be one of 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Over the course of three jam-packed days in March, 11 female students from ���ϲ�����’s  visited Atlanta to meet with numerous sports organizations and female executives from several sectors of the sport industry. The group also attended a Braves game at Truist Park.

Jake and Suzanne Doft have sponsored the trip for the past four years in honor of their daughter, Class of 2022 Sport Management graduate .

The students on the trip included Jordan Boron ’25, Kate Bradley ’26, Emily Gilbert ’27, Maggie Grejda ’27, Aryssa Hopps ’25, Janet Ji ’26, Lexi Katz ’27, Anna McDonald ’26, Claire Patin ’26, Brooke Siket ’25, and Tess Wright ’27. The students—all members of the  (WISE) Club from the —were accompanied by Falk College Director of Development , Sport Analytics Program Manager and former Internship Placement Coordinator Beth Perez, who’s now working for the University as an assistant director of development, leadership annual giving and discovery.

Falk College students visited with numerous sports organizations in Atlanta during a Spring 2025 immersion trip.

We asked Siket and Bradley to share their favorite experiences from the Atlanta immersion trip:

Brooke Siket (sport management major, marketing minor)

Brooke Siket

“As someone passionate about working in live sports and event management, this trip was everything I hoped for and more.

“Over three packed days, we met with representatives from the Atlanta Dream, Hawks, Falcons, United, Braves, Overtime Elite, United Talent Agency (UTA) and KLUTCH Sports Group, FanDuel and the Atlanta Sports Council. Each organization gave us a behind-the-scenes look into their operations, shared advice about breaking into the industry, and emphasized the importance of relationship-building. Hearing from so many strong women in leadership roles made the experience even more empowering.

“One moment that stood out to me was our visits to UTA and KLUTCH Sports. While few of us initially had a strong interest in the agency side of sports, the insight they offered into athlete representation, contract negotiation, and brand building was an incredible and eye-opening experience.

“The WISE community created an environment where I felt encouraged to ask questions, connect with professionals, and see firsthand what a career in this industry could look like. This trip reminded me why I chose ���ϲ����� and Falk; it’s the real world opportunities and constant support that have helped me grow and feel prepared for a career in sports. This trip solidified my goals and expanded my network, and I’m so thankful to WISE, ���ϲ�����, the Doft family, and everyone we met in Atlanta for making it possible.”

During her time at ���ϲ�����, Brooke Siket was an athletics facilities and game management intern, a Falk College peer advisor and ambassador, a Sport Management Club member who worked on the annual Charity Sports Auction and a WISE Club member. She’s currently working as a stadium operations intern for the Savannah Bananas baseball team.

Kate Bradley (sport management major, emerging sport enterprises minor)

Kate Bradley

“I joined WISE during my first week on campus, and it immediately became a meaningful community for me. Surrounded by driven, like-minded women who share a passion for working in sports, I’ve found lasting friendships, valuable networking opportunities, and unforgettable professional experiences through this organization.

“One of the most impactful aspects of being in WISE has been participating in immersion trips across the country. These trips provide unique opportunities to engage directly with industry professionals and ���ϲ����� alumni. Our recent trip to Atlanta was particularly special, as it allowed us to explore a sports market outside the Northeast.

“While in Atlanta, exposure to a wide range of organizations gave us a well-rounded understanding of Atlanta’s sports industry from team operations to agency representation and beyond. Additionally, visiting Atlanta was an amazing opportunity because the FIFA 2026 World cup is coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and we heard from multiple organizations about their unique perspective on the event and what role they will play in planning and executing it.

“These immersion trips are more than just site visits; they’re hands-on learning experiences that give us a real sense of what working in different sectors of the sports industry is like. In an increasingly virtual world, having the chance to build face-to-face connections is invaluable. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of WISE and for the opportunities it has provided to grow both personally and professionally. Thank you to everyone who met with us on this trip, and to everyone who made this adventure possible.”

Kate Bradley’s extracurricular activities in Falk College include WISE Club communications chair, Sport Management Club community outreach chair, Sport Management Club Charity Sports Auction public relations chair for the 2023 and 2024 auctions, research assistant for Assistant Professor Lindsey Darvin’s NIL project, publishing assistant for David B. Falk Endowed Professor Rick Burton, and vice president of partnerships for the ���ϲ����� Sport Group. She’s currently interning for the Wasserman sports marketing and talent management agency in the Brand and Properties department.

Visit the to learn more about experiential learning, academic programs, and career opportunities in the Department of Sport Management and the sport analytics program at ���ϲ�����.

The 2025 Winston Fisher cohort at AlphaSights, an information services company, in midtown Manhattan.

With so many career possibilities open to them, how can students explore which fits their interests? The  offers a variety of programming to facilitate career exploration and readiness, such as .

Over spring break, a group of 17 A&S | Maxwell undergraduates had the chance to experience one of those immersion trips: the annual Winston Fisher Seminar in New York City, which allows undergraduate students from all majors across the and the to explore how their liberal arts education can be leveraged into a wide variety of careers in the business world.

Founded in 2006 by Fisher Brothers partner, AREA15 CEO, Dean’s Advisory Board member and Trustee Winston Fisher ’96, the weeklong Winston Fisher Seminar allows students to spend time developing and presenting business plans, touring different employers and gaining critical networking experience with recruiters and alumni.

During this year’s immersion, participants visited several high-profile organizations, including Penguin Random House, Major League Baseball, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Morgan Stanley, iHeartMedia and more.

“Connecting with the students throughout the week, hearing their business plans and learning about their aspirations is truly one of the highlights of my year,” Fisher says. “As a firm believer in the power of a liberal arts education, I’m excited to see where their journeys take them and the impact they’ll have on the world.”

“There’s no substitute for the first-hand knowledge and experience Winston’s seminar provides. In addition to gaining insight into the professional world and entrepreneurship, students build lasting relationships with peers and accomplished members of our alumni community,” says , director of employer and alumni engagement.

Check out these other photos from the 2025 Winston Fisher Seminar:

Students kick off the 2025 Winston Fisher Seminar with benefactor Winston Fisher ’96 at Fisher Brothers.

Students hear from an alumni panel led by policy studies alumna Kate Abogado ’20 at Deloitte.

Psychology and forensic science major Seth Cohen ’25 speaks with Charlamagne tha God on the set of The Breakfast Club.

Learning didn’t stop during spring break for dozens of Falk College students who took part in immersive travel opportunities. The college offers a wide array of travel programs for students, with and being pillars of the experience.

Three immersion travel programs this spring provided Falk students with unique opportunities for hands-on learning from leading industry professionals, while also discovering and embracing different cultures.

Ireland

Students enrolled in the Sport Culture in Ireland class spent nine days in Ireland over spring break. The group of 13 students, comprised of and majors, traveled to iconic Irish spots such as the Cliffs of Moher, Temple Bar and Kilmainham Gaol to experience the culture of Ireland.

The students visited the Na Fienna Gaelic Athletic Association club, where they participated in Gaelic football, hurling and handball games with classmates while learning about the sports’ history and impact in Ireland. At University College Dublin’s Institute for Sport and Health, experts in the fields of sports medicine and exercise science gave insightful presentations about injury and rehabilitation research. At a visit to the Leinster Rugby Club, students learned from team officials about the role of technology in athlete development and what it takes to manage a winning sport organization.

Visit the to learn more about the students’ experiences in Ireland.

Italy

Falk College students enjoy a cooking lesson in Italy.

In each of the last two springs, students in the Italian Football: Impact and Outcomes class have visited Italy to meet with representatives from Serie A soccer clubs and learn about Italian culture surrounding soccer, or calcio.

The students on this year’s trip met with representatives from Soccerment, an Italy-based artificial intelligence platform seeking to accelerate the adoption of data analytics into soccer; networked with front office officials from Bologna FC; and toured Viola Park, home of ACF Fiorentina. Students experienced exciting Serie A matchups at Stadio G. Sinigaglia, home of the Como 1907 football club, and Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, home of Inter Milan. Aside from soccer, students toured historic locations such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Milan Cathedral. On the final day of the trip, students learned how to make authentic Italian pasta from scratch.

Los Angeles

Falk College students visit SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Students have enjoyed the Falk in Los Angeles Career Exploration trip for more than a decade. Open to all Falk students, the trip offers students the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, explore career paths and visit leading organizations in one of the country’s largest sport markets.

This year’s trip included stops at the NFL Network, FOX Sports, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, the Rose Bowl and more. Students met and networked with Falk’s extensive based in southern California to set themselves up for successful careers in the industry.

For nearly three weeks, the students traveled from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney, Australia’s largest city. As part of their immersion trip, each student was required to contribute to , a blog that captured their day-to-day experiences.

The entire blog is worth a read, but here a few daily excerpts to get you started:

Rugby lessons in the park

Day 3: Julia Cronin ’26 (sport management major)

Our group walked to Victoria University, where we met with  Matthew Klugman, who taught us about the history and rules of Aussie Rules Football and the social impact of the game. After a captivating lecture, our group got lunch and headed to Flagstaff Gardens Park with Damian Hecker (“Damo”) to try out Aussie Rules Football. We started out with drills and then played a scrimmage game. I even surprised myself and scored a goal.

Later, we watched the St. Kilda Saints vs. Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium (in Melbourne). We all got dinner at the stadium, and many tried the famous Australian meat pies and kangaroo meat! Our group understood the game much better after getting the chance to play it ourselves in the park earlier. Unfortunately, St. Kilda (Professor Burton’s favorite team) didn’t pull off the win but the game was so fun to watch nonetheless.

Day 6: Finley Dermody ’27 (sport management)

This morning, we started our day with a walk to the Twenty3 Group’s office, where we met with CEO  John Tripodi. He gave us a presentation on the (marketing) company that he started himself. It was fascinating to hear about his journey.

Next, we heard from Raphael Geminder ’82, G’84, a ���ϲ����� alum and chairman of the (packaging company) Pact Group, who flew in from Europe to speak with us. Geminder shared his experiences at ���ϲ����� and talked about sustainability initiatives at Pact. He talked about the circular cycle compared to the linear cycle, as well as the importance of a good role model over a good job.

We walked to the Melbourne Museum and had the chance to explore the museum prior to the official tour. We then had a guided tour at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. The tour was very educational and gave us a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture and history.

Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 9: Anna McDonald ’26 (sport management)

The trip to the Great Barrier Reef took about two hours through rough ocean waters. On the way there the boat crew taught us about the marine life we might see, proper scuba diving and snorkeling techniques, and told us what to expect from the day.

Arriving at the reef was beautiful, from the boat you could see some of the corals and the water was very blue. I got the opportunity to scuba dive for the first time, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I got to see some many different types of fish and all the corals. After the first dive we ate lunch and had the opportunity to dive or snorkel again. This time I just snorkeled, which was just as cool.

Day 12: Leda Rossmann ’26 (history)

We arrived in sunny Sydney very excited for warm weather since it’s been pretty rainy in Melbourne and Cairns. We drove to Bondi Beach to visit the legendary Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club. The pools are saltwater and freezing cold. I was so excited to jump in. I was a competitive swimmer for most of my life so the water is one of the most calming and nostalgic places I can be.

Our bus driver took us on a guided tour of the Sydney sights. We saw The Gap and heard the story of Don Ritchie, who saved at least 180 people who were going to jump off the rocks. We also saw Lady Macquarie’s (rock) Chair, where she would look into the harbor to watch for ships bringing news of her family during the early colonization days. We saw some of Vivid Sydney, a light/art show in the harbor with lights into the sky and on the bridge and art projected onto the Opera House and other buildings.

Walking the Great Ocean Road.

Day 15: Doug Capdeville ’24 (communication and media studies)

After spending time on the beach and listening to a presentation about the local surf club, we headed to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks rugby facility. There, we learned how to play rugby. The staff was super friendly and taught us the basics, which was really fun. We even got to try out some drills ourselves.

After that, we sat through a lecture by the Sharks’ staff. They talked about the team, their strategies and what it’s like to be part of the rugby community. It was really interesting to hear about the behind-the-scenes stuff.

The day ended on a high note with an exciting Sharks game, which was about an hour away from the rugby facility. The atmosphere was incredible—fans were cheering and the energy was off the charts. The game was intense and really fun to watch. From the beach to learning rugby and experiencing a live game, it was a day filled with awesome memories.

Day 17: Thomas Wildhack ’26 (sport management)

After an unforgettable two weeks, the final day had arrived. Fortunately, we had had another free morning, which gave some of us the chance to fit in one last adventure, and others to catch up on some much needed sleep.

I had previously found out that not only was June 1 the first day of winter, it was also the first day of whale season. Humpback whales would begin a great migration from Antarctica up the coast of Australia in search of warmer waters. I figured that whale watching would be a great way to go out on a big splash. Once we made our way into the ocean, it didn’t take long to find some activity. A few whales were splashing around, and swam over to the boat to show off their skills. I thought the whales would be scared of the boat, yet I learned many whales are incredibly curious creatures and often approach boats.

We finished off the trip with one final group dinner at the Great Southern Bar. We reflected on our favorite moments of the trip, and took one final group photo. All of us couldn’t believe how fast these last few weeks went by. We made memories that will last a lifetime and bonds that will last forever.

Visit the for the full story with daily excerpts. To learn more about other experiential learning trips, academic programs and career opportunities in the sport industry, visit the website.