Syracuse, SMU Partner to Launch Sport Summit
The annual initiative will connect students, faculty and sport industry leaders.
Syracuse University's David B. Falk College of Sport and SMU's Simmons School of Education & Human Development are partnering to launch the Syracuse-SMU Sport Summit, a new annual initiative connecting academic research with real-world practice in the sport industry.
The inaugural summit is planned for February 7–9, 2027, at Syracuse University's Fisher Center in New York City. Under the theme “Applied. Current. Connected.,” the event will bring together students, faculty and sport industry leaders from both universities, with a long-term vision of expanding to additional Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) institutions.
“At Falk College, we're committed to creating opportunities for students to connect what they're learning in the classroom with the people and organizations shaping the future of sport,” says Jeremy Jordan, dean of Falk College. “This collaboration with SMU brings together the strengths of both institutions to give students meaningful industry exposure, elevate academic research and build connections that extend well beyond the summit itself.”
The summit will feature 20 students, 10 from each university, who will visit sport industry organizations in New York City, participate in a research poster competition and engage with industry experts on how academic research can inform real-world decision-making.
“The future of sport will be defined by universities that bring together academic expertise, industry partnerships, and exceptional student experiences,” said Michael Harris, Leon Simmons Endowed Dean of SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development. “By connecting the strengths of our universities with industry leaders in Dallas and New York, we’re creating opportunities for students to help shape the sport industry.”
Faculty from both institutions will also collaborate on white papers translating insights from the summit into practical takeaways for sport industry professionals.
Syracuse and SMU will alternate hosting the annual event, with SMU welcoming participants to Dallas in 2028. Beginning in the third year, the universities plan to invite additional ACC institutions to participate, building toward a conference-wide forum for research, professional development and industry collaboration.