USA Today Columnist and Author Christine Brennan To Be
Keynote Speaker at SDSU Sports MBA Graduation

Contact: Randy Carmical, Director of Communications
(619) 594-0206 Randy.Carmical@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Monday, June 11, 2007 – On Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m., the San Diego State University Sports Business Management MBA program will hold its second commencement at PETCO Park. Sports columnist Christine Brennan will be the guest speaker, along with Richard Andersen, Executive VP, Ballpark Management and General Manager of PETCO Park for the San Diego Padres.

Brennan is an award-winning USA Today sports columnist, best-selling author and commentator for ABC News, ESPN, NPR and Fox Sports Radio. A leading expert on the Olympics and women’s sports issues, she also is a nationally known speaker. Her book, Best Seat in the House: A Father, A Daughter, A Journey Through Sports, arrived in bookstores last month. It is the first father-daughter sports memoir written by a sports writer.

The Sports Business Management MBA program, now in its third year, has established itself among the elite sports-focused MBA programs in the nation. As the only one partnered with a major league team, the San Diego Padres, the program is intended for highly motivated students looking for an intensive, sports-focused business education and professional experience in the highly competitive sports industry.

Students complete the academic program and consulting project in 18 months.  This accelerated schedule, along with an invaluable MBA and the experience of living in “America’s Finest City” make San Diego State a premier destination for future sports business executives.

"If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, this program is for you.  The academic curriculum is rigorous, but its intensity will prepare you for success in your internship and beyond," said Shana Gritsavage, a member of this year’s graduating class who conducted her internship with Under Armour Performance in Baltimore.  “I took the skills I developed in the Sports MBA program to lead a company-wide initiative to implement a new consumer relations capability, and my efforts with this project have led to a full-time position as Under Armour’s Global Direct E-commerce Program Manager."

Sports MBA graduates have gone on to work in diverse segments and organizations within the sports industry such as action sports, athlete representation, college sports, corporate sponsorship, equipment/apparel, field hockey, golf, international soccer, mixed martial arts, Olympic sports, triathlon, tennis, and many more.  Our graduates have also taken positions with leagues such as the NFL, AFL, NBA, NBDL, MLB, and NASCAR.

For more information on the SDSU Sports Business Management MBA program, visit http://sdsu.edu/sportsmba.

About the College of Business Administration – Leadership for the Global Marketplace
With over 6,000 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. Its programs in undergraduate international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

About San Diego State University
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region.  Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas.  SDSU’s more than 34,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.  For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.