Holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.A. in Recreation, Sport and Tourism, and East Asian Language and Culture (all from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Has over 15 years of academic experience: currently Associate Professor & International Graduate Director at University of South Carolina’s Sport and Entertainment Management Dept., previously Assistant Professor at University of Mississippi and Missouri. Serves on Major League Baseball’s Severe Weather Committee, is a Fellow at UK’s University of Nottingham Chinese Soccer Observatory, and has published over 50 papers on sport economics, management, and media. Fluent in Japanese.