Elizabeth O’Hara, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing; Coordinator of the Sport Management Program
Education
Ed.D., Johnson & Wales, 2018
MBA, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1999
B.A., Elms College, 1988
Classes Taught at Assumption
Undergraduate
Sport Management; Sport Marketing; Sport Media & Communications; Sport Ethics; Introduction to Marketing; Introduction to Management; Introduction to Organizational Behavior
MBA
Business Ethics; Corporate Social Responsibility; Strategic Marketing
How did you get into teaching?
I worked in the corporate world for many years and am someone who is always looking for my next challenge. During my last corporate role, I asked myself, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” The quest for my next adventure led me to the University classroom, where I realized that teaching is more than textbooks. It’s about the students, who need someone who cares about their learning in and outside of the classroom. I have never regretted leaving the corporate world. Not for a minute.
How does your professional experience impact your students?
I am a storyteller by nature, and stories help students learn. In an academic setting, the students are able to read or hear about “concepts” and “terms,” but being able to relate these to a real-world scenario adds credibility and a deeper understanding of what we are trying to teach. By sharing stories and real-world situations, the concepts become more than words on a page. I’m also fortunate to maintain many of my contacts from my previous business roles, and I’m able to connect students to internships, help build their network, and get a step ahead before graduation.
Most rewarding aspect of teaching?
That’s easy: the students. I love watching students as they forge ahead in their careers, find success professionally and personally, and find happiness.
How have you continued to engage students during the pandemic?
FaceTime, Zoom, it’s all about the face-to-face interaction and letting the students know I’m here. Students need to know we care, have their backs, and understand their struggles. Faculty need to be present, empathetic, and do our best to help each other.
Why is sport management a popular subject?
Sport is a great source of entertainment. Few areas of industry or business create such passion. So many students would love a career in the sport industry, but so few understand the skills and tools necessary to get the job. Taking classes in sport provides students with a unique perspective and can perhaps leverage them in a very competitive field.
What does Assumption’s partnership with the Worcester Red Sox mean for the students?
The Sox partnership is a big deal on so many levels. The relationships that have developed and the opportunities that have been provided for and will continue to be offered to our students transcend what I ever could have hoped for this partnership.
You are a mentor for inner-city scholarship students from The BASE. Why is it important for you to connect with them?
The BASE students mean a great deal to me. They are young people who have limitless potential who deserve opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve and people who believe in them. It is my job to support and encourage them. The BASE founder, Robert Lewis, Jr., is one of the most influential people in my life.
