Bob Heere is the G. Brint RyanProfessor in the Department of Management in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, the Executive Director of the Sports Innovation Space@ UNT, and the founding Director of the BBA and MBA Sport Entertainment Management Programs at the University of North Texas. Prior to joining UNT, he held academic appointments at the University of Texas, University of South Carolina, Florida State University, Auckland University of Technology, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, and the Hague University of Applied Sciences and served as a knowledge manager at the Cruyff Institute for Sport Studies. Since joining UNT in 2018, Professor Heere has grown the BBA and MBA Sport Entertainment Management programs to over 200 students and created formal educational partnerships with the Dallas Cowboys and the PGA of America. The online MBA program was ranked the highest ranked online graduate sport management program in the world in 2024 (Sport Business International Ranking). He is a NASSM Research Fellow and SMA Research Fellow and 40 of his 64 peer reviewed articles were published in either the Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review, European Sport Management Quarterly and Sport Marketing Quarterly. He was recognized in 2022 as one of the Top 2% most cited management scholars in the world by Stanford University. He has consulted for a wide range of sport organizations around the world, including the PGA of America, the Dutch Soccer Federation, the Shanghai Sports Federation, Fulham FC, The World Golf Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, AFC Ajax Amsterdam, and served on the Board of Directors of Dutch pro soccer team MVV Maastricht, as part of the minority ownership group. The Sports Innovation Space@ UNT opened its doors on May 1st, 2025, and is providing international sport technology companies a soft landing in the US market through professional development, networking, staffing, and by providing them with a base of operations at the Star, the entertainment district operated by the Dallas Cowboys.

Milena M. Parent, PhD is a Full Professor of Sport Management and Strategy at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management and Faculty of Health Sciences, the Director of the MEMOS (Executive Master’s in Sport Organisation Management) English Program, and the Co-Director of MEMOS French. The first woman to lead MEMOS English in its 30-year history, she works with Olympic Solidarity and a global network of scholars and practitioners to strengthen leadership capacity across the Olympic Movement.An internationally recognized authority on sport (event) governance, policy, and sport systems, Prof. Parent has authored or edited 11 books, over 45 book chapters, and nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles, with her work cited over 9,300 times. Her research funding exceeds $1.9M CAD, including major SSHRC, governmental, and International Olympic Committee (IOC)-supported projects. She regularly advises national governments, the IOC, and other sport organizations on governance and strategic management.

Prof. Parent serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Sport Management, Deputy Editor of Event Management, and is a long-time board member of Sport Management Review, playing a key role in shaping scholarly discourse in the field.

A committed mentor and field leader, she has supervised and collaborated with scholars and practitioners worldwide, contributing to the development of sport management research, policy, and professional practice on five continents.

Dr. Jessica R. Braunstein-Minkove is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Towson University. With nearly two decades of faculty experience, she has built a career grounded in high-impact teaching, inclusive student development, and the meaningful integration of scholarship and practice. Her approach is shaped by constructivist and experiential learning principles, emphasizing active engagement, reflection, and real-world application to prepare students for the complexities of the sport industry. Dr. Braunstein-Minkove’s scholarship centers on two complementary lines of inquiry. Her pedagogical research examines curricular and co-curricular structures that enhance career readiness, with particular attention to high impact practices. At Towson, she co-founded and chairs a high impact practice community of practice -an initiative that bridges Academic and Student Affairs to elevate student learning and engagement. Her second research focus explores consumer behavior in sport, investigating how organizational strategies influence brandperceptions. These threads converge throughout her teaching, advising, and service, informing a holistic, practice-driven approach to student development. Her work has been widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences. She has also contributed significant service to the field through editorial board appointments with Sport Management Education Journal, Sport Marketing Quarterly, International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship, Sports Innovation Journal, and Journal of Applied Sport Management. Additionally, Dr. Braunstein-Minkove is co-editor of Innovative Pedagogical Practices in Sport Management Education-and co-host of the corresponding Teaching Innovations in Sport Management Podcast -further advancing dialogue on teaching and learning in the discipline. A graduate of the University of Florida with a PhD in Sport Management (Marketing), Dr. Braunstein-Minkove has demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching, pedagogical innovation, and mentorship. Her career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening sport management education, supporting student success, and elevating the profession through impactful and practice-informed scholarship.

Dr. Nicole Melton is Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs, and Professor in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned her Ph.D. in Sport Management with an organizational behavior cognate from Texas A&M University. Dr. Melton’s scholarship focuses on diversity and inclusion in sport organizations, ally behaviors, and intersectionality, with numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals. She is the founder and co-director of the Laboratory for Inclusion and Diversity in Sport (LIDS) and has received multiple research and teaching awards, including the Isenberg College Outstanding Teacher Award and Carnegie Initiative Grants. A recognized leader in advancing equity in sport and academia, Dr. Melton also serves on editorial boards and presents widely at national and international conferences.

Dr. Thomas J. Aicheris Dean and Professor in the College of Business at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Dr. Aicher has made significant contributions to sport management through his research, teaching, and service. His work focuses on sport event management, consumer behavior, and active sport tourism, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and multiple books and technical reports. Dr. Aicher has consistently served NASSM for more than 15 years. His numerous roles include President, Member-at-Large, Conference Committee Chair, Publicity and Promotions Chair and served on a variety of committees and taskforces, consistently advancing the organization’s mission. He is recognized for fostering inclusive academic environments, developing strategic partnerships, and mentoring future leaders in sport management. Dr. Aicher’s commitment to service is evident in his leadership across university, community, and professional organizations. His impact on the field and dedication to NASSM exemplify the spirit of the Garth Paton Service Award.