Pre-COVID times would have allowed Dr. Kathryn Heinze, professor of sport management at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology, to come visit Korea and interact with students, but she started her first year teaching at DTM by greeting students through an online platform. Delve into the article to get acquainted with our latest DTM faculty member!
How were you first exposed to sports, and what were some factors that led to your academic career in sport management?
Sports were a big part of my childhood. I played basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and swam. As I grew older, I concentrated on soccer. My earliest fan experience was rooting for University of Michigan (American) football. My academic career started, more broadly, in the area management and organizations. I began studying sport organizations about ten years ago, when I joined the faculty of the sport management program at UM. The sport context presents many interesting and valuable opportunities to examine the relationships between organizations and society.
How did you first hear about the Dream Together Master program, and what was your first impression?
I first heard about DTM from my colleague, Professor Dae Hee Kwak, who praised the program and students. He was right: it is a special program, unlike any of which I have been a part. I was struck first by the array of countries and organizations represented in the student body.
I believe one of the strengths of the program is that students bring their different experiences to the class discussion. Because students are currently working and participating in various sports organizations, they can draw on their experiences to make valuable connections to the course concepts. Students can also learn from one another, sharing approaches to working with and leading others. I really enjoyed these aspects of teaching in the DTM program. The students also seem to have a nice collegiality and community.
Have you visited Korea before, and what do you look forward to the possible visit for your next class?
I have not been to Korea and hope to visit in the future. I look forward to the possibility of meeting students in person, and learning about and sharing in the food and culture.
What do you think are some of the greatest obstacles to sport in the current situation, and how do you think the world of sports is adapting to these obstacles?
Sport, like all industries and sectors right now, has had to adapt quickly to the “environmental jolt” of COVID. For most organizations, particularly those that are larger and well-established, change is often a slower process. In responding to COVID, incremental change was not an option. There is variation in how leagues and other sport organizations are approaching this crisis. We are still trying to understand what constitutes an effective approach, but I would not be surprised, based on current information, if it involves a more comprehensive strategy and partnerships with relevant stakeholders (e.g. public health experts). Hopefully, sport organizations can use what they have learned and developed in terms of systems and processes with COVID, to respond more effectively to other current challenges, such as social justice issues and climate change/environmental disasters.
As an academic in the rapidly-changing field of sport management, what do you think are some vital skills for sport administrators currently and for the future?
One of the aspects of management and leadership that I put front-and-center in my teaching is decision-making. So much of organizational behavior stems from how information is collected and pooled. Sport administrators need to ask and address: What do we need to know? Do we have all the voices represented? Who are our experts? What are our systems and processes for ensuring we have captured relevant data and viewpoints? How will we make sense of data?
With the inevitable changes in life due to the current pandemic, what changes affected you the most? How are you coping with the change?
The two biggest changes for me are remote teaching and having my kids at home for remote school. The work-life separation is much less distinct. I feel like I am juggling delicate glass balls, and just hoping not to drop and break one (or several).
What do you hope for students, DTM program, and yourself in the future?
I hope the students graduate from the program as the world is recovering from the pandemic, and can bring their knowledge and insights to helping sport organizations recover and become stronger than ever. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of DTM.
We hope to meet you face-to-face in the near future!
