GS graduate student goes global for sports industry program
Morgan Kieffer, a Georgia Southern University sports management masters student, is proof that classroom lessons can launch students into life-changing, real-world experiences.
Born and raised in Sharpsburg, Georgia, she grew up playing soccer and describes herself as naturally competitive. While she continues to compete on a semi-pro team out of Dublin, Georgia, she looks for ways to grow professionally on the administrative side of her favorite sports.
That lifelong passion for athletics eventually steered her toward a career in sports nutrition. After completing her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and food science at Georgia Southern, Kieffer immediately transitioned into the University’s sport management master’s program.
“I go watch a ton of sports anytime I can, and then I just got really intrigued with nutrition and how nutrition really affects the body and performance,” she said. “So, I put two and two together, and thought to myself — that’s what I want to do.”
That passion for performance led her to an international opportunity that few students experience. While researching internships and global networking programs, Kieffer discovered Women in Football, a U.K.-based organization that supports women pursuing careers in the sports industry. When she learned about the group’s annual Women in Football Conference at Wembley Stadium, she applied for both the conference scholarship and a travel grant offered through the Georgia Southern Graduate Student Organization. She was awarded both.
“I thought, ‘I might as well just sign up for one of the free tickets, even though I probably won’t get it,’” she laughed. “And then I got it.”
At the conference, Kieffer joined panels led by international sports leaders and executives from Spain, England and Norway. Speakers discussed topics such as breaking industry barriers and career development for women in football. The experience expanded Kieffer’s understanding of how sports organizations across the world are working to create more equitable opportunities.
Of course, no trip to England is complete without taking in a match. Kieffer attended a national team game at Wembley, where she experienced international soccer culture firsthand.
Not just that, but the second-year graduate student was finally able to watch the sport she loved in one of the game’s most famous venues.
“I was wearing a jersey of one club and someone came up to me and they were just like trying to talk smack about the club,” Kieffer recalled. “So, it was kind of funny how passionate everyone is. It was really cool.”