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Jim Strode, Ph.D., Ohio University's College of Business Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and O’Bleness Associate Professor of Sport Management, has been recognized as the 2023 Distinguished Sport Management Educator by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). The accolade was presented to Dr. Strode at the NASSM's annual conference in Montreal on June 10.
The award celebrates educators who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in various teaching environments including classroom, field, and online; a longstanding commitment to enhancing teaching quality and learning in sport management; and continuous dedication to their own professional development.
Dr. Heather Lawrence-Benedict, former Associate Dean of the College of Business, nominated Strode for the award. In a video broadcast introducing the event she praised Strode’s dedication to education, reflecting, “How lucky we would all be to have an impact on students like Dr. Jim Strode has and continues to have as a professor at Ohio University?”
Lawrence-Benedict went on to share a comment from Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer, Dean of the College of Business at Ohio University: "Jim is a passionate, empathetic, and seasoned educator in sport management. He works hard to engage students in order to coach, mentor, and guide them in meeting their academic, professional and personal objectives. Jim is truly a leader in serving students."
Dr. Strode, during his acceptance speech, emphasized three teaching philosophies his experience has helped him develop: First, to use teaching as a tool to learn, embracing new challenges and learning from peers; second, to innovatively approach the "flipped classroom" method, prioritizing empathy and understanding; and third, encourage risk-taking, fostering an environment where both teachers and students aren’t afraid to fail or try new approaches.
He concluded with the importance of shaping future sport leaders, saying, "We're fortunate to guide the next generation."
To qualify for the NASSM Sport Management Education Journal Fellow Award, candidates must be NASSM members for at least five years and must have taught in sport management curricula for a minimum of three years. Strode is the first OHIO sports administration professor to receive a major NASSM award.
Outside of teaching, Dr. Strode is an active contributor to the field, with multiple publications and presentations at NASSM, North American Society of Sport Sociology, and other sport management association conferences.
NASSM annually acknowledges outstanding contributions by its members, awarding accolades for achievements in research, teaching, and service during their conference.