Butler University announces launch of Institute for Sports, Entertainment
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Butler launches Institute for Sports & Entertainment
Butler launches Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE) BISE will be able to leverage its students, programs, facilities and resources for all of central Indiana’s sports and entertainment organizations. BISE can offer their partners marketing, video production and streaming, event data analysis, market research, kinesiology-related projects. Hamilton County Sports Authority will be the first partner as Bise will serve on the communication and marketing team for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 tournament. Butler says they’ll employ faculty and students from the College of Communication, Lacy School of Business, and College of Education. The initiative aligns powerfully with our 2050 Vision, especially in our commitment to growing Sports Academia as a pillar of Indiana’s long-term sports strategy.
A Butler cheerleader carries a flag before an NCAA college basketball game between Butler and Xavier, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One good turn deserves another, and Butler University is matching Indianapolis’ goal to be the global capital of sports by launching the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE).
“BISE will serve as a catalyst for developing the talent, research, and partnerships needed to fuel the region’s growing influence on the sports and entertainment industries,” Butler Director of Communications Mark Apple said in a press release.
Butler’s College of Communication and Lacy School of Business collaborated to create the institute to better connect Butler University’s academic and co-curricular strength to Indiana’s evolving sports and entertainment landscape. While Butler ties their institute’s goals to compliment the Indiana Sports Corp’s (ISC) 2050 vision of making Indy a premier destination, the University noted a particular interest in “experiential learning, media production, business analytics, and fan engagement.”
Bringing together both industry leaders’ needs and their students’ educational goals, BISE is designed to be a supportive pillar to the ISC.
“With a flexible, cross-disciplinary approach, BISE positions Butler as a responsive and collaborative partner — one that comes alongside organizations to co-create solutions and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future of sports and entertainment,” the press release says.
ISC’s Chief of Staff and Strategy Sarah Myer says it’s imperative to invest in people for the future of sports, “This initiative aligns powerfully with our 2050 Vision, especially in our commitment to growing Sports Academia as a pillar of Indiana’s long-term sports strategy. By connecting world-class education with real-world experiences, Butler is creating a pipeline of talent that will elevate our region and industry.”
BISE will be able to leverage its students, programs, facilities and resources for all of central Indiana’s sports and entertainment organizations, Dean of the Lacy School of Business Craig Caldwell says. BISE can offer their partners marketing, video production and streaming, event data analysis, market research, kinesiology-related projects.
To accomplish their ambitions, Butler says they’ll employ faculty and students from the College of Communication, Lacy School of Business, and College of Education.
“Our students are going to get practical, real-world experience that will propel them as they start their careers,” Caldwell said. “Additionally, central Indiana sports and entertainment organizations — many of which have limited staff and resources — will benefit from the bench-strength Butler can provide. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
Hamilton County Sports Authority will be the first partner as BISE will serve on the communication and marketing team for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 tournament.
Butler Professor Bob Schultz, who formerly held leadership roles at Downtown Indy, Inc. and Visit Indy, will lead BISE.
‘It’s a win-win’ | Butler University launches Institute for Sports & Entertainment
Butler University is launching the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment. BISE will serve as a “catalyst for developing the talent, research and partnerships,” officials say. The institute will provide marketing, video production and streaming, event data analysis, market research, kinesiology-related projects and more to partners. Butler students and faculty will serve on the communication and marketing team for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 tournament.“Our students are going to get practical, real-world experience that will propel them as they start their careers,” the dean of Butler’s Lacy School of Business said. “We have premier facilities like Hinkle Fieldhouse and Clowes Memorial Hall, strong academic programs in Sports Media and Sports Management, and a well-earned reputation for leading innovation within higher education.”
INDIANAPOLIS — As Indianapolis expands its efforts to try and become the “global capital of sports and entertainment,” Butler University is joining in.
The university announced Wednesday, June 25, that it is launching the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE).
BISE will serve as a “catalyst for developing the talent, research and partnerships needed to fuel the region’s growing influence on the sports and entertainment industries,” the university said in a release.
Butler’s College of Communication and Lacy School of Business collaborated to create the institute to better connect the university’s academia and co-curricular strengths to Indiana’s evolving sports and entertainment scene.
When Indiana Sports Corp (ISC) introduced its 2050 Vision, officials said Butler was advancing conversations around how to align what the university is capable of with industry demands — specifically in experiential learning, media production, business analytics and fan engagement.
“Butler leadership identified clear synergies within the ‘Sports Academia’ pillar of ISC’s 2050 Vision, and BISE was subsequently designed to complement and support that pillar by offering scalable, customizable partnerships that meet both the needs of industry partners and the educational goals of Butler students,” the university said. “With a flexible, crossdisciplinary approach, BISE positions Butler as a responsive and collaborative partner— one that comes alongside organizations to co-create solutions and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future of sports and entertainment.”
BISE will provide marketing, video production and streaming, event data analysis, market research, kinesiology-related projects and more to partners.
To make this happen, officials said, BISE is hiring faculty and students from its College of Communication, Lacy School of Business and College of Education.
“Our students are going to get practical, real-world experience that will propel them as they start their careers,” said Craig Caldwell, dean of Butler’s Lacy School of Business. “Additionally, central Indiana sports and entertainment organizations— many of which have limited staff and resources—will benefit from the bench-strength Butler can provide. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
BISE’s first partner will be the Hamilton County Sports Authority, officials said, and Butler students and faculty will serve on the communication and marketing team for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 tournament.
“Butler University has a strong foundation in athletics and arts, and building upon that foundation to make our Midtown campus a destination for sports, arts, and entertainment is a strategic priority as we look toward our own future,” said Joseph Valenzano, dean of Butler’s College of Communication. “We have premier facilities like Hinkle Fieldhouse and Clowes Memorial Hall, strong academic programs in Sports Media and Sports Management, dedicated faculty who are mentoring some of the nation’s brightest students, and a well-earned reputation for leading innovation within higher education. Butler University is the ideal academic partner to help ISC achieve its goals.”
Former NCAA director to lead new Purdue sport management program
Jeanne Boyd is executive director of a new master’s degree program in sport management. The program aims to give students hands-on work experience in sports so they’re well-positioned to get jobs when they graduate. Butler University announced this year it would launch an online sports management master’s degree. Boyd talks to Mirror Indy about the program’s potential for Indianapolis and what students need to succeed in the sports industry. She says the program is STEM-centric, cutting-edge and will be offered in both Indianapolis and West Lafayette. It will be the first of several new programs being added to Purdue’s new Indianapolis campus in the fall, including a master’s in sports engineering. It’s the first program of its kind in the state of Indiana, Boyd says, and it will be available to students in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis for the first time in the history of the state. It is also one of the first in the country to offer a sport management degree in an online format. It starts at $20,000 and ends at $30,000.
Her passion for sports as a child led her to her eventual career as managing director of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The hard work of planning major sports events, she said, pays off tremendously when college athletes walk into the Final Four arena, awed by both the spectacle and the excitement of their accomplishments.
“I just can’t see myself doing anything else,” Boyd said.
Soon, Boyd will be able to share her industry experience with students as executive director of Purdue’s new master’s degree program in sport management.
The program, which will be offered in both Indianapolis and West Lafayette, aims to give students hands-on work experience in sports so they’re well-positioned to get jobs when they graduate — preferably, Boyd said, in Indianapolis.
Sport management is one of several new programs being added to Purdue’s new Indianapolis campus in the fall, including a master’s degree in sports engineering. Purdue is not the only local college to add a sport management program — Butler University announced this year it would launch an online sports management master’s degree.
Mirror Indy talked to Boyd about the program’s potential for Indianapolis and what students need to succeed in the sports industry.
Here is the interview, edited for length and clarity.
On program structure
Why add this master’s program at Purdue in Indianapolis, and what do you think it demonstrates about the direction that Purdue in Indianapolis is headed?
Indianapolis is where it’s happening. Purdue in Indianapolis is perhaps the most important component of this program. West Lafayette offers the traditional college experience for students — our partnering athletic department is literally 50 feet away from our back door. But where better to take courses than at our state-of-the-art new building opening in Indianapolis. It’s STEM-centric, it’s cutting-edge. We definitely want to be at Purdue in Indianapolis.
It perfectly positions us in the heart of the sports capital of the world.
Purdue University in Indianapolis signs on Aug. 26, 2024. IU Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis were founded on July 1, 2024, after the split of their predecessor, IUPUI. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy
Why not go just get a master’s in data analytics, for example, and then work in sports? Why is it important to have that lens of sports within the program?
Sports is such an interdisciplinary field. I started out as a business major, and then I went to accounting, and then I went to education. I think I went to sociology. Sports is a culmination of all of those things. There are absolutely sociological components to it, and there are absolutely business components. The newest trend is all the technology and the STEM-centric advancements that are taking place.
We wanted to focus in on students who had a little bit of time under their belt, a little bit of experience under their belt, who were perhaps a little bit more focused and had a broader understanding of what their specific area of expertise should be. We want these hands-on experiences not to be stuffing envelopes for all the volunteers or creating nameplates. We want these to be meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities.
On student success
What type of student do you see as being really successful in this program?
I think that there’s a perception out there of what working in sports is. But then there’s the harsh reality of what working in sports is, if that makes sense. People see the glamour and everything on social media, with people behind the scenes and having access. Sure, there are a lot of perks and it’s fun and exciting and all that, but it is also very demanding. When you get in at the entry level, there’s not a lot of money. It is life consuming. It is long hours. There are a lot of sacrifices that people go through to be able to work their way up through the hierarchy, but it’s a job that you know, a lot of folks love and understand.
Honestly, if somebody comes in and says, ‘Hey, I’m a really big sports fan, and that’s why I want to do this,’ I’m not going to admit them. I wouldn’t want to admit them to the program, because, to me, they do not have a clear understanding of what it takes.
The jobs are so competitive that we want to do whatever we can to best position these students so that they’re ready as soon as they graduate, or they already have something lined up because of the hands-on opportunities that we’ve provided them.
On Indianapolis’ sports scene
How is this program going to help the city of Indianapolis?
We have developed this program in all ways with the hope and the thought that we’re going to retain top talent in the state.
We’re going to retain the top talent in the state because of all of the fabulous and wonderful, different events and opportunities that are provided right here in this beautiful state. I don’t understand why people would want to leave. We also want to recruit people from out of state to come in-state, and then stay here.
We’ve got something going on that just is unmatched across the United States, and we want to capitalize on that.
Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0429.
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Close window X Republish this article This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics. Q&A: Purdue wants to leverage Indy’s sports culture with new degree
Q&A: Purdue wants to leverage Indy’s sports culture with new degree
Sports have always been central to Jeanne Boyd’s life.
Her passion for sports as a child led her to her eventual career as managing director of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The hard work of planning major sports events, she said, pays off tremendously when college athletes walk into the Final Four arena, awed by both the spectacle and the excitement of their accomplishments.
“I just can’t see myself doing anything else,” Boyd said.
Soon, Boyd will be able to share her industry experience with students as executive director of Purdue’s new master’s degree program in sport management.
The program, which will be offered in both Indianapolis and West Lafayette, aims to give students hands-on work experience in sports so they’re well-positioned to get jobs when they graduate — preferably, Boyd said, in Indianapolis.
Sport management is one of several new programs being added to Purdue’s new Indianapolis campus in the fall, including a master’s degree in sports engineering. Purdue is not the only local college to add a sport management program — Butler University announced this year it would launch an online sports management master’s degree.
Mirror Indy talked to Boyd about the program’s potential for Indianapolis and what students need to succeed in the sports industry.
Here is the interview, edited for length and clarity.
On program structure
Why add this master’s program at Purdue in Indianapolis, and what do you think it demonstrates about the direction that Purdue in Indianapolis is headed?
Indianapolis is where it’s happening. Purdue in Indianapolis is perhaps the most important component of this program. West Lafayette offers the traditional college experience for students — our partnering athletic department is literally 50 feet away from our back door. But where better to take courses than at our state-of-the-art new building opening in Indianapolis. It’s STEM-centric, it’s cutting-edge. We definitely want to be at Purdue in Indianapolis.
It perfectly positions us in the heart of the sports capital of the world.
Why not go just get a master’s in data analytics, for example, and then work in sports? Why is it important to have that lens of sports within the program?
Sports is such an interdisciplinary field. I started out as a business major, and then I went to accounting, and then I went to education. I think I went to sociology. Sports is a culmination of all of those things. There are absolutely sociological components to it, and there are absolutely business components. The newest trend is all the technology and the STEM-centric advancements that are taking place.
We wanted to focus in on students who had a little bit of time under their belt, a little bit of experience under their belt, who were perhaps a little bit more focused and had a broader understanding of what their specific area of expertise should be. We want these hands-on experiences not to be stuffing envelopes for all the volunteers or creating nameplates. We want these to be meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities.
On student success
What type of student do you see as being really successful in this program?
I think that there’s a perception out there of what working in sports is. But then there’s the harsh reality of what working in sports is, if that makes sense. People see the glamour and everything on social media, with people behind the scenes and having access. Sure, there are a lot of perks and it’s fun and exciting and all that, but it is also very demanding. When you get in at the entry level, there’s not a lot of money. It is life consuming. It is long hours. There are a lot of sacrifices that people go through to be able to work their way up through the hierarchy, but it’s a job that you know, a lot of folks love and understand.
Honestly, if somebody comes in and says, ‘Hey, I’m a really big sports fan, and that’s why I want to do this,’ I’m not going to admit them. I wouldn’t want to admit them to the program, because, to me, they do not have a clear understanding of what it takes.
The jobs are so competitive that we want to do whatever we can to best position these students so that they’re ready as soon as they graduate, or they already have something lined up because of the hands-on opportunities that we’ve provided them.
On Indianapolis’ sports scene
How is this program going to help the city of Indianapolis?
We have developed this program in all ways with the hope and the thought that we’re going to retain top talent in the state.
We’re going to retain the top talent in the state because of all of the fabulous and wonderful, different events and opportunities that are provided right here in this beautiful state. I don’t understand why people would want to leave. We also want to recruit people from out of state to come in-state, and then stay here.
We’ve got something going on that just is unmatched across the United States, and we want to capitalize on that.
This article first appeared on Mirror Indy and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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WBCA names honorees for the 2025 Thirty Under 30 presented by Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment
The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches aged 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement. This is the 10th year of the WBCa Thirty under 30 program. The WBC a offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players. It serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport.
ATLANTA (March 27, 2025) — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today the WBCA Thirty Under 30 presented by Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment honorees for the 2024-25 season.
The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches aged 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
“Congratulations to these coaches who have distinguished themselves so early in their careers,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “The WBCA is pleased to recognize this up-and-coming talent in our coaching family. We celebrate their effort on the basketball court as teachers and equally applaud the extensive role they play in impacting the lives of their student-athletes.”
“Morgan Stanley is proud to celebrate the outstanding young leaders recognized in the 2025 class of the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program,” said John Ludwig, global sports and entertainment director, for Morgan Stanley. “These trailblazing coaches exemplify dedication, innovation, and a passion for shaping the future of women’s basketball. Their impact extends far beyond the court, inspiring the next generation of athletes and leaders. We applaud their commitment to excellence and look forward to seeing their continued success in the sport.”
Here are the 2025 WBCA Thirty Under 30 honorees:
Name Institution Jenna Allen Central Michigan University Annie Barrett New York University Peyton Booth Youngstown State University Lauren Brocke Air Force Academy Kiara Carter Chicago State University Mi’Cole Cayton Louisiana State University Shreveport Kayla Cooper Williams James Madison University Paige Corkins College of the Holy Cross Moriah Crisp Marist College Tania Davis University of Iowa Jenny DeGraaf University of South Carolina Upstate Terra Helm McKendree University Holly Hoopingarner Butler University Courtney Jaco University of Southern California Kacie Jones South Dakota State University Ashleigh Lopez Grand Canyon University Samantha Mancinelli Tufts University Ashton Millender DePaul University Caelyn Orlandi Lewis-Clark State College Abigail Owings University of Cincinnati Katherine Puda Smith College Amber Raisner Yale University Ty Rozier Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Blair Schaefer University of Texas Brianna Spector Franklin & Marshall College Ariel Stephenson University of Richmond Colsten Thompson University of Alabama Uyen Tran Wichita State University Angel Whetstone Madison College Ashley Williams Hanover College Olivia Woolam Denison University Harlyn Wyatt University of Memphis Maya Wynn Anderson University
This is the 10th year of the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program.
About the WBCA
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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White House Press Release – President Donald J. Trump Announces His Intent to Nominate Dennis Dean Kirk of Virginia, to be a Member and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board
Dennis Dean Kirk of Virginia, to be a Member and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board for the remainder of a seven year term expiring March 1, 2023. Mr. Kirk, Esq. graduated with honors from Northern Arizona University and Washburn University Law School. He reentered federal civil service as Associate General Counsel for Strategic Integration and Business Transformation, Department of the Army, from 2007-2012. He served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Program from 2002-2007 in Rome, Italy. He was president of Lilly Endowment Inc. (1984- 1988), chairman and CEO of IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company (1989-2002), and chief of staff for former Indianapolis Mayor Richard G. Lugar (1967- 1973)
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President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Designate Personnel to Key Administration Posts
Heath P. Tarbert of Maryland, to be the acting Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank
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President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint James Morris to be the United States Representative on the Executive Board of the United National Children’s Fund
James Thomas Morris of Indiana, to be the United States Representative on the Executive Board of the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Mr. Morris is vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. He served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Program from 2002-2007 in Rome, Italy. Concurrently, Mr. Morris served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Southern Africa, leading an effort to bring UN and humanitarian agencies together to address issues affecting more than 15 million people. In Indiana, Mr. Morris has demonstrated leadership in the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. He was president of Lilly Endowment Inc. (1984-1988), chairman and CEO of IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company (1989-2002), and chief of staff for former Indianapolis Mayor Richard G. Lugar (1967-1973). An Eagle Scout, Mr. Morris has served many institutions in volunteer leadership roles, including Indiana University (as Trustee and Board Chair) and Riley Children’s Foundation (as Board Chair). He has also served United Way of Central Indiana, Indiana Youth Institute, Gleaners Food Bank, and Indianapolis Urban League. Nationally, he has assisted the American Red Cross, YWCA, Boy Scouts of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Mr. Morris earned a B.A from Indiana University and a M.B.A. from Butler University.