Sport Management Kicks Off Washington Commanders Mentorship Program

Ten Bowie State Students Paired with NFL Mentors

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Saxon, jsaxon@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-3607

(BOWIE, Md.) – A group of ten sport management students are connecting with Washington Commanders staff members for a semester long mentorship program that will expand their horizons and networks with a look inside the business operation of an NFL organization 

The opportunity comes via the efforts of Dr. Alex Anderson, who reached out to the Commanders organization to create a learning opportunity that would be meaningful for his students. 

“We collaborated looking at how we can connect and give our students a great experience and a better understanding of what it’s like working in the professional field,” said Dr. Anderson. “Based on that, we came up with how we can do this.” 

Bowie State and the Commanders kicked off the collaboration on Feb. 20 with a visit to the organization’s new headquarters in College Park. The Commanders matched students with mentors across different departments based on their resumes and written statements about their career goals. The department placements include membership services, hospitality services, security and transportation, alumni relations, client services, marketing and engagement, payroll and human resources. 

“This experience will give them a real day in the life of what it is like to work for a professional organization,” said Dr. Anderson. “They will get tips on what organizations are looking for and how to get their foot in the door.” 

Senior sport management major Quentin Barnes, one of the mentees, described what it meant to have this kind of opportunity to connect with members of the Commanders’ professional staff. 

“I feel like this mentorship was important, and I was really glad that Dr. Anderson reached out to me,” said Barnes, who was matched with a senior manager of marketing in the organization. “I plan to build a connection with her. My goal is to stay in contact with her, even when the mentorship does end, and gain as much knowledge as I can these next few months.” 

Dr. Anderson is hopeful that this mentorship program can grow legs beyond this semester and become a long-term fixture that the sport management program can offer its students. He also sees the mentorship program as a channel leading to professional opportunities for students.  

“Our goal is for our students to be able to learn from professionals and build their network,” said Dr. Anderson. “I’d like to be able to get our students working, either with them or in other professional opportunities. I want the mentors to help guide them into what the students want to do.”

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