Presidential Fellows

WALKER ROSS-2016 Scholar
major & degree: Sport & Entertainment Management, Ph.D.
hometown: Medford, OR
contact: wjross@email.sc.edu
What brought you to USC?: While attending a conference hosted by
the HRSM school here in Columbia, I was astounded to see how well
the program was connected to the sport industry. Additionally, the
faculty were all so welcoming, which is what sold me on the idea of
coming to this institution.
What do you hope to accomplish while you pursue your degree?: I hope that during my time here, I can
grow and develop as a scholar in sport and entertainment management. Tackling the environmental
issues within sport is my main goal.
Fun fact about yourself: While traveling in Iceland I successfully ate Hákarl, which is rotten shark. It
was awful.
Research Key Word: sport, event management, environment, sustainability, legacy, leverage, institutional
theory, stakeholder theory, Olympic Games, and FIFA
LARA SCHNEIDER-2015 Scholar
major & degree: Epidemiology, Ph.D.
hometown: Cincinnati, OH
contact: ors@email.sc.edu
What brought you to USC?: I came to USC 3 years ago to pursue my
master’s in epidemiology, and decided to stay for my doctorate
because of the high quality program, excellent teachers and mentors,
and great weather. I’m lucky enough to work with Drs. Liu and Wilcox
on the NIH-funded HIPP Study, which is helping me gain firsthand
experience in clinical research and primary data analysis.
Fun fact about yourself: I was voted “Most Mischievous” in high school.
Research Key Words: nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease
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