SMBA ’27 Begins Their Sports MBA Journey

SMBA ’27 is officially here! Before even stepping into the classroom, students volunteered at the 20th anniversary of the Super Girl Surf Pro in Oceanside, a staple of the Sports MBA experience. For many, it was also their first time meeting their new classmates, making a weekend of working together at one of San Diego’s major sports and entertainment events a memorable way to start the year.

Back on campus, SMBA ’27 received an official welcome from Congcong Zheng, Director of Graduate Programs at the Fowler College of Business. Professor Zheng introduced the cohort to graduate life at Fowler and helped set the stage for the months ahead. Orientation also introduced students to resources available across campus, including a visit from Kuma, SDSU’s newest therapy dog, who brought some extra energy and smiles to the classroom!

The first week concluded with a visit from six members of SMBA ’26, who recently completed their own year on campus. Drawing from their experiences, they shared practical advice on navigating the program, from working together as a cohort and balancing a demanding schedule to networking effectively and making the most of opportunities beyond the classroom. The conversation continued in small breakout groups, where SMBA ’27 had the chance to ask questions and connect directly with students who had just completed the same year-long experience.

With orientation complete, the focus shifted to the academic semester ahead. SMBA ’27 is taking on 13 units across seven courses:

• BA 640: Financial Reporting & Analysis with Dr. David DeBoskey
• BA 642: Statistical Analysis with Dr. Bruce Reinig
• MIS 596: Regression Analysis with Dr. Bruce Reinig
• BA 643: Economics with Prof. Cristina Pintado
• BA 671: Business Law with Prof. Romain Decourtye
• BA 673: Organizational Behavior with Dr. Devin Rapp
• BA 711: Challenges of Leaders with Prof. Mark Lindner

With their first weeks of classes behind them, SMBA ’27 is officially settling into the program. There is a busy year ahead for the newest Sports MBA cohort, and we look forward to sharing their experiences, challenges, and accomplishments along the way.