Students Make Game-Changing Connections at 3rd Annual Sports Industry Career Fair

The Alumni Lounge was buzzing with energy as students from across the University of New Haven’s Sport Management program gathered recently for the 3rd Annual Sports Industry Career Fair. Whether looking for summer internships, full-time roles, or simply aiming to grow their networks, attendees were ready to make the most of the opportunity to meet industry professionals from a wide range of organizations.

For first-year student-athlete Elyse Genaway and graduate student Shealin Callahan ’26 M.S., the event proved to be a pivotal moment in their professional journeys. From connecting with top athletics programs to discovering new career possibilities, both students left the fair feeling motivated, confident, and excited about their futures in the sports industry. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.

What you put into the University of New Haven is what you will get out of it, which motivated me to attend the Sports Industry Career Fair. As a first-year student-athlete studying sport management, I looked at the career fair as an amazing opportunity to network with industry professionals, and I was mainly interested in finding internship opportunities.

The event in the Alumni Lounge was packed with tables providing a variety of professions and opportunities for students to take advantage of. I was looking forward to speaking with Yale Athletics, Bridgeport Islanders, and Army West Point Athletics. I was able to connect with many professionals and was given an opportunity to shadow a home football game this fall at Army West Point. I also left with a meeting planned with Yale Athletics to discuss my future in their athletic department.

The career fair made me feel productive and grateful for the professors in the Sport Management department who helped me prepare for the career fair and taught me how to present myself professionally, with a firm handshake, an elevator pitch, and being professionally dressed. Overall, the Sports Industry Career Fair is a great opportunity students should take advantage of to create a larger network and seek out potential internships, experiences, and/or jobs.

I decided to attend the Sports Industry Career Fair to not only see the opportunities available at the companies and schools that attend the fair, but also to network with successful members of the industry. I am currently looking for an internship for this upcoming summer, which was my primary focus while at the fair. Nevertheless, I know that in the near future I will want a full-time job, so this career fair allowed for the best of both worlds.

I had a mindset going into the fair, and throughout my time in the University of New Haven’s sport management program, that I wanted to work specifically in professional sports. That is the sector that I focus most of my attention on when I am searching online for internships and jobs, and that was my priority at the fair. So, during my time preparing for the fair, I researched the list of companies attending and looked into what their goals/missions were as a company and if they aligned with my own personal priorities. I additionally made adjustments to my resume, ensuring that it was all up to date and exemplified the experiences I most wanted the companies attending to know about.

I am happy to say that this career fair opened my mind to the wealth of opportunities available in the college sector of the industry and also solidified my excitement for my future work in the sport industry. There are so many opportunities that I never could have imagined. Furthermore, there were many kind people, especially University of New Haven sport management alumni who represented their companies at the career fair, working to help the up-and-coming professionals in the industry.

Attending the Sports Industry Career Fair was an incredibly valuable experience that not only helped me pursue internship opportunities but also broadened my perspective on the many career paths within the industry. While my initial focus was on professional sports, the fair introduced me to a wide range of roles in the college sector that I had not previously considered.

Through networking, thoughtful preparation, and engaging conversations, I gained a clearer vision of my future in the sports industry. I left the fair feeling more motivated and confident in my career path, knowing that there are many supportive professionals and University of New Haven sport management alumni in the industry, as well as exciting opportunities waiting ahead.