UISRM’s first symposium took place in 2016 as an opportunity for students to hear from sport and recreation industry professionals and be inspired by their stories. Over time the event evolved, integrating new programmatic elements that encouraged students to interact with and learn from a larger number and range of successful professionals. With the 10th annual UISRM Symposium presented by the Iowa Heartlanders and the Hawkeye Sport Business Association (HSBA) in the rearview mirror, it is safe to say the 2025 edition once again raised the bar for delivering the ‘home-field advantage’ to students as they pursue their career in sport and recreation.
The 2019 edition of the event marked the first year that students had the opportunity for quick, informal conversations with professionals during a networking session. That year, the networking session featured participation by 20 organizations. In 2025, students had the opportunity to interact with 30 organizations. Of the professionals participating in networking this year, six have experience at or are currently working with organizations in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and NASCAR.
Lighting Interviews first debuted at the UISRM Symposium in 2022. These conversations require students to apply for selection by interviewees and allow for more intimate conversations with participating sport and recreation professionals. Some participating professionals are UISRM Advisory Board members and use the time to select their mentees for the upcoming school year. Other participating professionals use Lightning Interviews as introductory interviews for credit-worthy internships or full-time employment. The 2025 UISRM Symposium saw the highest participation with regards to interviewing employers (Chicago Fire FC, Iowa Heartlanders, and Iowa Cubs) and allowed students to receive interview material review from MUSCO Lighting HR professionals.
Beyond a refined program schedule that saw the introduction of Micro Workshops to ‘level up’ the engagement of student attendees, the greatest contributor to the 10th edition of the event raising the bar was the level of alumni contribution. All mainstage panelists graduated from the UISRM program. In the day’s first main stage session, faculty Packy Moran led a conversation with Nick Long (Iowa Sports Turf, BA 2011, MA 2013) and Sam Bocken (Chicago Fire FC, BS 2020, MA 2021) to discuss the Business of Soccer and what World Cup 2026 means as opportunity for students entering the industry. Following lunch, Jaecee Hall (Unbreakable Female Athlete, MA 2024) and Bailey Ortega (League One Volleyball, BS 2023) took the main stage to discuss NIL Insights and Transferable Skills (pictured). Furthermore, seventeen other alumni participated in the day’s activities.
The 2025 UISRM Symposium was the embodiment of Hawkeyes helping Hawkeyes.