Where are they now? Featuring: Marissa Avanzato

where are they NOW? MARISSA AVANZATO

Sport Management, M.S. School of Graduate Studies ETSU, 2019

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

What is your current position and/ or research?

I wanted to pursue my master’s degree and get a few more years of experience in the sport information director world, so ETSU was the perfect choice. It had the degree I was interested in, and at the end of the day, it checked all the boxes I was looking for.

I am currently working for Texas A&M Athletics in College Station, Texas. This is my first full-time job after being a graduate assistant for ETSU and an intern for Villanova.

What does your current position/ research entail? How did your time at ETSU prepare you for your career? What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

I cover volleyball and softball and do a variety of different things within each sport. I’m in charge of social media, posting on the website, writing press releases, and handling statistics. My favorite part of my job would be interacting and building relationships with my athletes and coaches. The amount of life experience I was able to get helped me learn a lot and grow into the person I am today. I became a strong female in the sports industry and benefitted from all the opportunities I was given. Through the graduate program, I was able to meet a lot of other GAs working in different fields in the sports industry, some of which I still talk to today. The experiences and relationships I built at ETSU, prepared me for my career. Never be afraid to be yourself and put yourself out there. Networking has made a big impact on my career, and the people that have helped me along my journey have been amazing. Take chances and don’t ever be scared to try something new.

What professors/advisors were instrumental in helping you get to this point?

Dr. Smith and Dr. Greene were instrumental factors in helping me grow and learn about different aspects in the sports industry. I can’t thank them enough for their guidance, and for always wanting what was best for me. There were a lot of others that have helped me get to this point in my career, too many to name.