Trevecca class pioneers nation’s first statewide sport management association

For several sport management students at Trevecca, a class project is making history.

The Sport Management Association of Tennessee (SMAT)-created by Trevecca students under the guidance of Dr. Leigh Ann Danzey-Bussell-is the first state sport management association of its kind in the nation. The nonprofit officially launched July 1 with a goal of connecting students, professors and industry professionals all across Tennessee.

SMAT grew out of Trevecca's Governing Bodies in Sport course in April, where more than 30 students built a mission, vision and goals and drafted bylaws, policies and procedures. The group's three-word mission-Service, Network, Empower-appears on a student-designed logo for the organization.

"This accomplishment is not only a milestone for the field but also a clear example of the active learning environment we provide for our majors," Danzey-Bussell said.

Backed early by programs and faculty at UT-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and East Tennessee State University, SMAT is recruiting members statewide and inviting participation from students, professors and practitioners. The organization is establishing quarterly member meetings, curating job and internship pipelines through partners like TeamWork Online and hosting regular virtual speakers aimed at career readiness.

Trevecca senior Macy Overall, SMAT's president, has led the early build-creating the website, organizing outreach lists for programs across the state and recruiting a leadership board. "We're focused on empowering sport management majors throughout the state," Overall said. As she prepares to graduate in December, she hopes the foundation her class laid keeps widening the path for students statewide to meet mentors, find opportunities and learn how the industry really works. "I hope this is an organization that runs for years and years," she said.

The launch also reflects Trevecca's hands-on approach in the world of Nashville sports, where proximity to four pro teams and multiple college programs creates rare access. As an advisor for SMAT, Danzey-Bussell has watched Trevecca's sport management major double in size over the past decade and sees the association as a natural next step. She's proud of how the students have embraced this opportunity. "I'm incredibly proud of the hard work our students put into launching this project," she said. "They're gaining hands-on experience, building connections, and shaping the future of our profession."

SMAT will host its first webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. CT, featuring Dr. Colby Jubenville, a TEDx speaker, author and professor at MTSU. The session is open statewide to students, faculty and industry professionals. Trevecca's students started SMAT, but the invitation is for Tennessee to connect programs, share opportunities and help the next class of sport professionals take the field.

Those interested can register for the webinar at lnkd.in/e_mSkkmx.
Information about membership can be found at thesmatproject.org.