By Jordan Beach
Dr. Joe Mullins
The end of the summer 2020 semester brought a first for Reinhardt University as the inaugural cohort of the Master of Science in Sport Administration and Leadership completed the program.
The Sport Administration and Leadership graduate program graduated 17 students from the cohort. Dr. Joe Mullins, interim dean of the McCamish School of Business and Sport Studies and MS-SAL program coordinator, feels these graduates and their education will benefit their future employers, wherever their careers lead them.
“I am extremely excited for the first graduating class of the MS-SAL program,” said Mullins. “I look forward to seeing them make their mark on the sports industry. I have no doubt that these students will be tremendous leaders that will greatly impact their organizations.”
Reinhardt’s MS-SAL program allows students to develop management, critical thinking and leadership skills necessary to become a coach manager, athletic director and other high-ranking sports leader positions. In just one year, the online program can open doors to leadership opportunities at local, regional and national sports organizations.
Jordan Turner ’07 ’20 is one of the recent MS-SAL graduates and the head coach for men’s and women’s cross country/track and field at Reinhardt University. He loves his work as a coach and pursued his degree in hopes of increasing his options to work in leadership roles in the field.
Turner chose to return to Reinhardt to further his education because he felt he could easily connect with faculty.
“Being away from a classroom for 12 years was a scary thing for me to walk back into and I knew the support from faculty members would be a major benefit as an adult learner,” said Turner.
Students enrolled in the MS-SAL program examine the broader role of sports in society and explore critical issues facing sports administrators, social issues, financial management and how to utilize research. The curriculum covers topics such as budgeting, communication, ethics, management, marketing and branding, human resources, sports law and technology.
“I’ve learned and been challenged to embrace social media as a medium to help build the brand of my current team,” said Turner. “As an athletic administrator I’ll be challenged to be an effective leader and this program prepared me to take that next step in my career goals.”
During students’ time in the program, Reinhardt’s connections with athletic departments, college and professional sports teams and other industry organizations provides opportunities for internships and employment opportunities, whether in Georgia or around the world.
