Produced by: Tim Palladino, Graduate Assistant, Division of Sport Management
January 3, 2022
Career advisors from St. John’s University Career Services recently created an experience for students in the Sport Management program to interact with sport industry professionals from various baseball organizations at Jack Kaiser Stadium on the Queens, NY, campus.
Dressed in their favorite team shirts, more than 100 students took advantage of this unique opportunity to discuss and learn about the operations of each team, as well as potential jobs and internships. This event was not all business—they also took time to play games and enjoy refreshments.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to expand their network,” explained Paulette Gonzalez-Sierchio, Executive Director, University Career Services. “They were also able to practice their elevator pitches and learn more about how to break ground in the sport industry. We were highly impressed with how many students participated and how proactively they engaged with representatives from each organization.”
The sport industry professionals—many of whom were St. John’s alumni—represented several organizations, including the Brooklyn Cyclones, Hudson Valley Renegades, Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Long Island Ducks, Major League Baseball Network, New York Boulders, New York Mets, and the New York Yankees.
Tyler DeFranco ‘16CPS, ‘18MA, Manager, Inside Sales, for the New York Mets, was excited to return to his alma mater to talk with fellow alumni and current students. “St. John’s University is a place that is near and dear to my heart,” he said. “I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees here, and it is where I learned what it takes to be the best person and professional that I can be.”
He added, “I am always happy to make myself available to alumni and current students who are looking to start a career in the sports industry, especially on the revenue-generating side. It is great to see alumni taking the next step in the sports industry and demonstrating to students the necessary skills to be successful in their career.”
“We all know how the sports world was impacted by covid,” said James Lally, Employer Relations Director, University Career Services. “However, this event along with the 450+ jobs and internships that our employer partners have posted with us during the fall semester demonstrate the strength of the industry. We are tremendously excited for our students and graduates looking to gain employment in the sports and entertainment field and look forward to continuing to work with our professional network and showcasing these wonderful opportunities.”