The Sports and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) held its 38th Annual Conference at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, welcoming nearly 100 attendees at the beautiful resort town.
As is traditionally the case, SRLA recognized members (both faculty and students) for their achievements. Among them:
The Bernard “Patrick” Maloy Student Research Award was given to Michael DiLiello from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for his paper entitled, “School’s Out: How State Public Education Union Bans Could Impact College Athletics.” The award, which is sponsored by Hackney Publications, is given annually to the graduate student who submits the best research paper to the Honors and Awards Committee. Award winners are encouraged to work towards future publication in SRLA’s Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport. This award is named after Bernard Patrick Maloy, an associate professor of sport law, management, and communication at the University of Michigan.
Meanwhile, the SRLA Graduate Case Study Cup Winner, which was presented by SRLA Student Representative Scott White, was given to a team of undergraduate teams from Coastal Carolina University comprised of Christopher Espinosa, Joshua Tennant and Kate Labate, along with advisor Kelly Elliott.
The Undergraduate Research Competition winner was Jackson Farias from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
SRLA then recognized the following Mary Myers Scholarship Recipients: Dylan Andrade, Elisa Carli, Hongyoung Kim, Scott White, Jackson Farias, Gabe Ruiz, and Carley Damme
The Kristi Schoepfer Service Learning Award, which recognizes a collaborative educational team or individual who conducts a service-learning project that is inspired by the character, courage, and commitment of Schoepfer, was the subject of the next presentation. This award offers a SRLA member the opportunity to engage in a service-learning project that advances the mission of the organization, while engaging students in a community-oriented project related to the legal aspects of sport, recreation, and/ or physical activity. The 2025 winner was Dr. Brian Menaker, for his work on Enhancing Safety and Risk Management Preparation for a Community Running Series.
The next presentation involved the Lori K. Miller Young Professional Award, which recognizes a young professional who demonstrates commitment to the study and instruction of the legal aspects of sport and recreation. This award is named for one of our most respected members and scholars, Miller, who always supported deserving young scholars in our organization. This year’s recipient was Dr. Natalie Bird, who “has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the advancement of understanding sport and recreation law through her teaching and research endeavors, and continued service to SRLA. As an assistant professor at Pittsburg State University, Dr. Bird excels in teaching and inspiring sport law and risk management students. Her passion for this work extends from her time as an assistant professor at Emporia State University, and her 12+ years of experience across the golf industry.
In sport law research, she has made considerable contributions that are enhancing the sport and recreation law body of knowledge. Dr. Bird finds time to explore her scholarly efforts despite her considerable teaching responsibilities. These efforts stem from her dissertation research on buffer zones and negligence cases in recreational golf, which she has shared as her research developed at SRLA conferences and in published scholarship outlets like the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport andthe Journal of Applied Sport Management.
Dr. Bird also leverages her golf playing and coaching experiences and her legal expertise to provide independent strategic consulting services in multiple outlets across the sport and recreation sector. Her work informs sport organizations like parks and recreation organizations, golf course and cart firms, and municipalities on best practice planning, strategic management, facility safety, and policy development.
Next up was the Herb Appenzeller Honor Award, which is presented to an individual who has given outstanding service to the Association. “Herb was one of our most respected and most esteemed founding members of SRLA, and we honor his career and contributions through the conferring of this award.”
This year’s recipient was Dr. Colleen McGlone, who has been a member of SRLA since 2004. Since that time, “Colleen has played pivotal roles in advancing the mission and goals of SRLA through her extensive involvement. She has sought out and accepted countless opportunities to serve our great association, including:
• Serving as President (2012-2013), where she provided vital leadership during an important period for the Association and its conference.
• Acting as Finance Officer (2006-2008), ensuring financial stability.
• Co-chairing the Teaching Resources Committee (2007-2011), where she contributed to the development of educational resources and pedagogical tools for members.
• Contributing as a Marketing Committee Member (2006-2009), aiding in the association’s sponsorship efforts.
• Participating in the Conference Planning Committee (2005-2008), shaping impactful events that foster collaboration and pedagogy.
• Providing her expertise as an Abstract Reviewer (2006-Present), upholding the high academic and professional standards of the Association.”
Dr. McGlone currently serves as the founding Dean of the Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance at Coastal Carolina. “The nature of her service has shifted to coincide with her changing role. She remains active in SRLA, including as an active member of the Past-President’s Group, helping to enshrine the Association’s institutional knowledge. This year, Dr. McGlone was able to utilize the resources of her office to formalize a partnership between Coastal Carolina and SRLA to host the conference and ensure that members enjoy the experience of SRLA and Myrtle Beach to the fullest.”
The Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award was presented next. Betty van der Smissen was once described in this manner: “When you were presenting at a conference, you would hope that Betty would choose to attend your session, but then when she did, you were terrified. Betty remains one of the most distinguished scholars to ever study sport and recreation negligence. The Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award is presented to an individual who is recognized for leadership and vision in the study of legal aspects of sport and physical activity, and if there is one person we could point to that furthered the development of our field, it was Betty.”
Recognized this year with the award was Dr. Natasha Brison, SRLA’s outgoing president.
Dr. Brison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina. In 2009, she co-founded Athletic Marketing & Management, a sports marketing firm based in Atlanta, GA, whose clients included NFL and NBA players, as well as U.S. Olympians. Her practical experience was the impetus for her research interests in athlete brand management and the legal aspects of sport marketing. Dr. Brison has written over 50 research articles, along with eight book chapters, and has given over 100 presentations at national and international conferences. In acknowledgement of her dedication to academia, in 2017, Dr. Brison received the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) Lori K. Miller Young Professional award and the Texas A&M University Center for Teaching Excellence Montague Scholar award. In 2020, the Texas A&M University Department of Health and Kinesiology as the Sport Management Teacher of the Year selected her, and in 2022, she was inducted into the 2022 SRLA Research Fellow class. Dr. Brison is the current President of the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) but also has served on the Board as President-Elect and the Marketing Member-at-Large. In addition to her service to SRLA, Dr. Brison is the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, the organization’s flagship journal.
As the outgoing President, Dr. Brison had the honor of presenting two President’s Awards, one to fellow professor Amanda Siegrist, and another to Holt Hackney, the founder of Hackney Publications.
The JLAS Best Paper was presented next, recognizing Natalie Bird and Merry Moiseichik for their work on “Buffer Zones Through the Lens of Golf: A Negligence Case Content Analysis.”
Dr. Jeffrey Levine and Siegrist were then recognized for their work on the Board, since they were rotating off. Furthermore, Kerri Cebula and Dr. Nita Unruh were acknowledged for their efforts in helping organize the conference.
Wrapping up the ceremony, Dr. Brison passed the gavel to incoming president, Dr. Justin Lovich.
The Honors and Awards Committee this year included Dr. Merry Moiseichik, Dr. Dylan Williams, Dr. Nick Smith, Dr. Andy Pittman, Dr. Edgar Jackson, Dr. YooJung Rhee, Dr. Neal Ternes, Dr. Eric Kramer, Dr. Brian Menaker, Dr. Heather VanMullem, and Matthew Kastel.
The judges for the graduate case study cup and undergraduate competitions included Dr. Scott Unruh, Dr. Yan Gioseffi, Dr. Dylan Williams, and Dr. Jim Evans.
