FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - NATALIE L. SMITH
Natalie L. Smith, Ph.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sport and Recreation Management at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City TN
Year of Graduation: 2010 (10th Edition)
Nationality: USA
What does your current role involve?
I’m currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sport and Recreation Management at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City TN. My role consists of three main areas: Research, Teaching and Service. Being the Chair of my department also involves leading strategic initiatives, managing faculty and staff of the department and our operating budget. I love being able to #LiveItTeachit by both teaching organizational behaviour and living it every day as Chair.
In terms of research, I focus on innovation and creativity in sport. For example, I just published research on coopetition in youth sport networks in Sport Management Review (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14413523.2025.2533004?src=. Forthcoming work includes focusing on job crafting and creativity in sport and the creative process in a famous American sports team.
In terms of teaching, I lecture primarily on leadership and organizational behaviour, as well as on research methods and strategic planning. My co-authored textbook is Organizational Behavior in Sport Management. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-67612-4 It features a FIFA MA alumni interview in one of the chapters. I am so grateful for the several FMA alum who have Zoomed into my classes over the years.
Finally in terms of service, I run our eSports academic programme including an eSports Management graduate certificate (online) and founded the Women’s International Football Institute (WiFi) https://www.womensinternationalfootballinstitute.com/.
I’m proud to have co-built our department brand with our students and how we embody our mantra, #MoreThanAMajor!
Because I’m an academic, I love being able to help industry people as part of my work. I’m the chair of the advisory board for Johnson City Parks and Recreation, helping write their 10-year Master Plan, and served on the governing board of NASSM, the largest academic society in sport management.
Which aspects of the FIFA Master course have helped you most in your career?
The Final Group Project element because I had a wonderful group with Sarah Crumbach, Sarah Schmitter, Creesen Naicker, and Keitaro Aoki and co-supervisors in Dr. Tallec Marston and Dr. Williams. We got to interview and meet with some of the top clubs and stakeholders at the time and back in 2010, there was a lot of room to grow for the sport. I met so many interesting people through that project and again my classmates were incredible to work with. Dr. Williams was the first academic I met who valued women’s football the way I did, and she suggested I consider getting a Ph.D. I’ve found my life’s calling because of that seed planted by her.
What advice would you give to future students?
Don’t chase the name, chase the mentor. Seek out people who will champion you, help you grow, and believe in you. Fancy titles and organization names may open doors and make you feel important but true growth and life fulfilment comes from being a part of an amazing team regardless of the sport or job title. And be open to new possibilities! I never would have guessed I would be living back in the US in the Southern Appalachia near Dollywood, teaching and researching about sport management, but I love it so much.
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