Faculty Interview Assignment

Faculty Interview Assignment
Upon hearing about the Faculty/Administrator Interview Assignment, I knew I wanted to conduct an interview with a staff member who I could relate with. I figured that if I was going to take the time to contact a professor or graduate teaching assistant, interview them, and write a paper about my experience, it would make most sense to interview a staff member in my specific major of Sport Management. That is why I chose to interview Zach Scola, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences.
Going into the interview, I knew some basic background information about Mr. Scola due to him sharing about himself briefly in class. Despite this, I felt that interviewing him would

allow me to gain a deeper understanding of what the Sport Management program involves and what would allow me to be more successful at KU.
It was great getting the chance to compare my experiences selecting the Sport Management major to his. Since most people interested in Sport Management have a good idea about Sport Management going into college, I was surprised to hear that he wasn’t aware of the Sport Management major while he was doing his undergrad in Education at the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. After discovering about the Sport Management program at KU, he decided that it was best for him to continue his education and pursue a Master’s in Sport Management. A large factor in this process for Zach was Dr. Brian Gordon, who recruited him to become a graduate teaching assistant while working on his Master’s. Mr. Scola tagged Dr. Gordon as his single biggest influence in his career, which is impressive considering all of the people who he has worked with at internships and multiple schools to this point.
In order to complete requirements of his multiple degrees, Zach has completed two internships.

The first internship was in the Athletic Department at the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. He said this experience allowed him to understand all of the ins and outs of an athletic department. This is valuable information to me because it helps me to realize how vital that internships are and gaining experience is while being a student. His second internship was in facility operations at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. Through this internship, Zach became aware of how much work goes into sport management but also how fun and rewarding it is. I was glad to hear this because I have always viewed Sport Management as a profession that combines serious work with passion and enjoyment of what you are doing. As a result of all of his education and work experience to this date, Zach has decided that his greatest interest in Sport Management lies in Academia and becoming a professor. Before taking his intro to Sport Management class and interviewing him, I had a distorted view of what jobs could be attained with a Sport Management degree. Now, I realize there are many routes to take with the degree. Knowing this is no doubt a comforting

feeling.
Prior to carrying out the interview, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the Sport Management major, my interests in school and career options, and of Mr. Scola himself. I also didn’t expect to gain much from the assignment other than a grade. Subsequent to the interview, I have built on to my already strong perceptions of the areas listed above and realize that the benefits of the interview go beyond just one class.