A leading expert in sport management who has worked with sports organizations across the world has been named the Lang Chair in Sport Management.
Prof. Ann Pegoraro will join Lang’s School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management Sept. 1.
Pegoraro has published extensively on digital media, innovation, and gender and diversity in sport. She is also a co-director of the newly formed National Research Hub for Gender Equity in Sport, which has attracted $1.65 million in funding from Sport Canada.
“I hope to be a catalyst to help grow our world-class research and significant partnerships to position Lang as a leader in sport management within Canada,” said Pegoraro.
Before joining Lang, Pegoraro served as the director of the Institute for Sport Marketing and professor in the School of Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. She is also a professor in the Executive Masters in Sport Organizations Management, MEMOS, a joint program of Olympic Solidarity and 12 universities from across the world.
”The mission of the Lang School is to develop forward-thinking leaders, who will use business to improve life,” said interim dean Sara Mann. “The addition of Ann to our faculty and her expertise in sport management and gender equity brings a unique lens to our already strong focus in sport and tourism.”
The experience Pegoraro brings to Lang further adds to the sport management research and academic programs. Lang’s new bachelor of commerce major and minor in sport and event management begins this fall.
Pegoraro is the first of four named chairs to be hired by Lang. Future chairs will include world-class faculty in finance, leadership and marketing, all intended to advance the Lang School as a globally focused institution dedicated to improving life through purpose-driven management education.
Last April, U of G announced the naming of the school following a $21-million gift through the Angel Gabriel Foundation from long-time benefactors Stu and Kim Lang. The name honours Stu Lang’s father, Gordon, whose family and business ethos was grounded in humility and community service.