<p>Gina Antoniello, a sports culture expert and social justice activist, brings decades of experience to NYU SPS. She holds a BA in Communications from Wake Forest University, an MS in Sports Management from Columbia University, and is currently ABD for her PhD in Sports Management at Troy University.</p> <p>Serving as the academic director of undergraduate programs and clinical assistant professor at the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, Antoniello is one of the department's most influential movers and shakers. We were thrilled to speak with her about her career, her teaching philosophy, and more.</p>

<p>Antoniello's career spans over a decade in professional sports, where she led marketing-communications strategy, social corporate responsibility, and player development programs for teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets. She's always been inspired by the power of people.</p> <p>&quot;When I was working for NBA teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets, I witnessed great displays of humanity, driven by visionaries who saw sport as a vehicle for societal actualization. It shaped my belief that when education is combined with empathy, the next generation of sports business practitioners can lead with intention to be socially impactful.&quot;</p> <p>Her transition to academia began at Columbia University, but it was at NYU SPS where she fully embraced being an educator. &quot;NYU gave me the opportunity to fully step into that calling,&quot; she reflects.&nbsp; With this in mind, Antoniello's teaching philosophy focuses on developing cultural competencies and fostering inclusivity and action among her students.</p>

<p>At the Tisch Institute, Antoniello is committed to preparing students for the realities of a career in sports management. She emphasizes practical, real-world learning experiences, which are integral to the program. &quot;Our curriculum, experiential learning approach, and industry connections collectively develop leaders who are agile, ethical, and committed to broadening access to sport globally,&quot; she says.</p> <p>Antoniello leverages her extensive industry experience to enhance her teaching by collaborating with industry colleagues on event marketing engagements, research initiatives, and immersive work experiences. A notable example is her strategic partnership with Venezia FC, which provided students with hands-on experience in global football marketing. &quot;Students traveled with me to Venice, investigating the sociocultural nuances of fandom unique to Italy,&quot; she shares.</p>

<p>One of Antoniello's cornerstone courses is The Sociology of Sport: Athlete Activism and Social Justice, which integrates justice-based learning. This course encourages students to engage with challenging material and develop strategies to address social justice issues in sports. &quot;Our students are equipped to understand and analyze current social justice issues to develop newer, more effective strategies in the business of sport,&quot; she emphasizes.</p> <p>For Antoniello, social justice and having a global mindset are intertwined. Having led global seminars across four continents, she provides students with unbeatable sports experiences abroad. &quot;In a diverse, global industry, students must recognize and understand diversity of perspectives and comparative governance in sport,&quot; she notes. According to her, NYU SPS is the best place for students who are ready to merge their love for sports with their desire to travel and have experiences like these.</p>

<p>For new and incoming students to the BS in Sport Management program, Antoniello urges you to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities both in NYC and abroad. &quot;We also have the advantage of NYU's global reach around the world, and we are able to give our students unparalleled sports experiences abroad,&quot; she adds.&nbsp;</p> <p>One example is her <a href="/content/sps-nyu/qa-pages/global-field-intensives.html" title="Global Field Intensives">GFI</a> in Sydney, where she and her students explored the forces influencing international sports in the Asia-Pacific region. Not only did they learn about Australia's rich history, lived experience, culture, and identity, but they also gained a deeper understanding of how a worldview can enhance sport. On these GFIs, she leads students through site visits, executive meetings, and immersion with some of the most storied sports teams in the area. In Australia, &quot;We even hiked the Blue Mountains and rainforest, met koalas, kangaroos, and wombats at an animal sanctuary, and went to surf school in the world-famous waters of Bondi Beach,&quot; she explains.</p> <p>Taking a class with Antoniello is a highlight for many students, and she reciprocates their enthusiasm. &quot;To play a small role in helping students find their voices and evolve, not just intellectually but personally as citizens, has been the great honor of my career,&quot; she concludes.</p> <p>Your passion for global sport is about to take flight when you pursue a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/bs-in-sport-management.html">BS in Sport Management</a>. The future of sports is yours to shape.</p>