Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Internships and Beyond, Third Edition

Experiential learning is the cornerstone for success for careers in sport management. Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Internships and Beyond, 3rd edition, guides students through specific segments of sport such as professional, college, recreation, and much more. The text assists students in developing a career plan and strategies for learning solid soft skills, as well as interviewing and resume writing strategies. Participating in experiential learning via a class, volunteering, planned apprenticeships, internships, graduate assistantships, and summer jobs helps students qualify for a strong career in sport.

Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Internships and Beyond, 3rd edition, builds upon the framework designed in the first two editions but includes additional content such as AI, eSport, international sport, and cooperative education. Introductory comments and fresh Time-Out Interviews from industry experts, many of whom have degrees in sport management/business, provide students with first-hand knowledge on possible paths into their field of choice. The book can be used as the main text for an introduction to sport management class and can be used throughout the academic career as a guiding text in any experiential learning class, and senior seminars that prepare students for a culminating internship. Graduate students without an undergraduate degree can benefit from this text as can doctoral students preparing for a teaching career in sport management.

Susan B. Foster, Ph.D., possesses academic degrees from Florida State, Eastern Illinois, and a Ph.D. with an emphasis in sport management and higher education from Ohio State University. In 2007, she started her own consulting firm and has reviewed other academic programs and curricula. After having taught sport management and recreation education for 30+ years at four institutions, she retired to continue her writing and publishing   

She supervised more than 1500 students in their field experiences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at four different institutions. Her teaching specialties were experiential learning, legal issues, risk management, event/facility management and strategic planning. She was passionate about quality academic and preparing students for entry into the sport business industry through professional development senior seminars, senior and graduate student internships/projects. Alumni from the four programs in which she taught have climbed their ladders in the sport business industry. Several are GM’s/owners of minor league baseball teams, successful coaches at NCAA member schools, lawyers, agents, campus recreation professionals, professors, business owners, teachers, private sport organizations, and more. Several have contributed Time-Out Interviews in all three editions of Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Internships and Beyond.

Foster was elected three times to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, having been nominated by students in her programs. In 2024, she was elected to the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) Hall of Fame for her work as a sport management curriculum specialist. In 2017, she received Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology Award of Distinction given to alumni for outstanding professional, personal, or community contributions in their field. In 2006, she received the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Honor Award for support of undergraduate student legal research after three of her students won that award. She was also honored by Saint Leo University with a Technology in Teaching Award and their Lifetime Publication Award.

She has delivered more than 80 presentations and workshops and from 2008–2011, she was the lead-off speaker presenting on the theme "So You Want to Work in Baseball" for the more than 500 attendees at the Business of Baseball Seminar held annually at the Baseball Winter Meetings, sponsored by Minor League Baseball. Her publications have appeared in 11 of the leading sport-related publications, and she has served on the editorial boards of four professional journals. 

Dr. Timothy Liptrap is an associate professor of Sport Management and Entrepreneurship at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. He is the Chair of the college’s General Business and Entrepreneurship programs and has the academic oversight of the college’s student-run golf course, restaurant and Bison Den, the college’s bar.   

In his tenure at Nichols College, he has worked with more than 800 students in their experiential learning, to include the student internship placements with local, regional, and national events, private sport businesses, along with local and national sport teams and leagues. He has worked with student internships and Graduate Assistantships in Division I, II and III athletic departments; and international studies and student-based research projects.  

Liptrap’s network of past students work in many facets of sport and business. His alumni have current positions with the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, USTA, PGA, LPGA, AHL and ECHL. These include positions at the league level and with teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Connecticut Sun, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Knicks, New York Mets, Nashua Silver Knights, New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins, Providence Bruins, Portland Sea Dogs, Savanah Bananas, Springfield Thunderbirds, Tampa Bay Lightning, Worcester Railers, and Worcester Red Sox.

Liptrap’s alumni also have positions in university athletic departments to include Assumption University, Boston College, Brown University, Butler University, Harvard University, Fairfield University Fitchburg State University, High Point University, Holy Cross, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Connecticut, University of Rhode Island, and the University of Massachusetts. Additionally, alumni hold positions in companies including CBS Sports, Draft Kings, Disney, DRVN, Fanatics, National Geographic TV, NBC Sports, Swarm Basketball, VaynerX, WEEI Sports, and many others.   

Liptrap built his career in Professional Tennis, starting as a youth coach at age 14 to his dream jobs at both the United State Tennis Association and with World TeamTennis. His career has brought him to Boston, Chicago, New York City and Worcester, Massachusetts.   He joined Nichols College in 2002 to follow his passion for teaching and helping others reach their potential.  When not in class or with student events, Dr. Liptrap actively volunteers in his local community with projects based on education, economic development, and human services.