These four words are displayed prominently on the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) website and guiding principles for the college’s mission to prepare students to become knowledgeable and engaged citizens.

Since its inception, UI Sport and Recreation Management, a program within CLAS, has provided its students with countless curricular opportunities to perform the four actions mentioned above. Examples include:

• Exploration of career opportunities in sport and recreation in Contemporary Issues in Sport, taught by Professor Moran.
• Discovery of sport and recreation facility funding in Finance in Sport and Recreation, taught by Professor Mims.
• Creation of a professional team brand in Sport and Recreation Promotion, taught by Professor Parrish.
• Engagement with Hawkeye fans through the Fans First Practicum, taught by Professor Wakenight.

However, much of UISRM’s ‘special sauce’ is facilitating exploration, discovery, creation, and engagement through extracurricular opportunities. Few opportunities allow for students to experience all four quite like the UISRM Symposium. As faculty advisor to the event’s planning team, I am continually energized by the positive outcomes that students realize from participation in the event.

This edition of the UISRM newsletter will feature the most recent UISRM Symposium as well as share other stories where current students or recent graduates explored, discovered, created, or engaged. Just as I am energized by the symposium, UISRM hopes you are energized by these stories and welcome any suggestions to feature members of the UISRM community in an upcoming newsletter edition.

Alex Voss (alex-voss@uiowa.edu)
Associate Professor of Instruction