Welcome

A message from Kenneth L. Shropshire

For the past five years, I have had the great honor of serving as CEO of the Global Sport Institute. Our unifying mission from the very start was to make sport better, to make the people in and around sport better, and to make the world better as a result.

I depart with a feeling of mission accomplished. The ship is launched and all that we desired to do to achieve that lofty mission in the beginning is now in place or achievable. This brings me great satisfaction. The greatest satisfaction will come with the test of time. I am optimistic that the widely-proclaimed “most innovative university” will continue this Institute as an enterprise at the forefront of academic innovation, as well as one that is seeking to make sport, people and the world better.

As I was packing up my office at Sun Devil Stadium, I came across several reminders of the great work our team has shared and supported over the past five years. A photo of John Carlos and Wyomius Tyus as they revisited Estadio Olímpico Universitario, the site of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, reminded me of the progress we’ve made in listening to women’s voices when they join in protest against racial injustice. A photo of Billy Mills, then another of Amanda Blackhorse, reminded me that after years and years of battles, both the Cleveland MLB team and the Washington NFL team have removed nicknames and logos that are offensive to Native Americans. Yet another photo was of our Sun Devils Athletics venture challenge winner, Maya McClendon, whose innovative app aims to reduce death by suicide within student-athlete populations.

I know that the work will continue in my absence, and I encourage you all to continue following this amazing organization. I certainly will, and I will continue to participate where the outstanding leadership deems appropriate.

“By creating a platform where innovative ideas, scholarly insights and tough conversations could be shared, my hope is that we created space for sport to take the necessary steps forward. ”

Kenneth L. Shropshire

Chief Executive Officer, Global Sport Institute and adidas Distinguished Professor of Global Sport

A message from Scott N. Brooks

I met Ken in 2000, while pursuing my PhD in sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. I had read his book, In Black and White: Race and Sports in America, and immediately emailed to ask if I could assist him with research. He agreed, and our partnership began. Twenty years later, I have the privilege of following in his footsteps leading the Global Sport Institute.

As Ken wrote, “the ship is launched,” and we have a great team that will continue the mission. In our first five years as the Institute, we have launched and landed on each of our target areas: entrepreneurship, research, outreach and education, and multimedia. We are a convenor of a variety of stakeholders through summits, roundtable discussions, pitch competitions, and learning programs. Our future will grow from this foundation and focus on expanding our educational offerings, broadening our coverage of the impact of sport across the globe, with a particular emphasis on youth. To do so, we will deepen our partnerships, at ASU, adidas and throughout the world.

Different from five years ago, the world has been strained by political, social and economic upheaval that challenge our access to and relationship with sport. We recognize the seriousness of these issues and see how sport has been impacted. But more importantly, we, at ASU and the Global Sport Institute, embrace the power of sport globally to address challenges and make a positive impact.

“Our future will grow from this foundation and focus on expanding our educational offerings, broadening our coverage of the impact of sport across the globe, with a particular emphasis on youth. To do so, we will deepen our partnerships, at ASU, adidas and throughout the world. ”

Scott N. Brooks, PhD

Incoming Director Global Sport Institute