By Noah Adkins

Ohio State students interested in careers in sports now have a new way to start building connections and professional skills early in college.

The Sports and Society Institute launched its Foundations Cohort this fall, a yearlong professional development program for first- and second-year students interested in the sports industry.

The inaugural cohort includes 20 students and introduces them to career paths, professional development resources and networking opportunities.

The program grew out of conversations about how SSI could better serve students at different stages of their college careers, said Tim Miller, a lecturer in the School of Communication and member of SSI’s governing board.

Miller said students later in college may arrive at SSI programs with previous career preparation, but the institute cannot assume every student has had access to the same resources or experiences.

“Career readiness is not a singular flip-of-the-switch moment,” Miller said. “The cohort is designed to help students feel they can tackle various milestones earlier and often in a manner that makes their integration with additional SSI programming more impactful.”

The cohort meets monthly, with many sessions connected to other SSI programs and events, said cohort coordinator Lexie Kupka, pictured, a fourth-year communication major.

Kupka said one of the program’s priorities is helping students become more comfortable making professional connections as they begin exploring careers in sports.

“I just want kids to feel comfortable with networking and understand that building these connections is essential for them to continue their careers,” Kupka said.

For Loren Elle Ross, a second-year fashion retail studies major, the chance to make those connections was one reason she applied.

Ross hopes to become a sports stylist, a specialized career path that can make finding relevant professional connections more challenging.

“Networking at Ohio State is great, but if you’re into a certain niche, I think a lot of it is missed,” Ross said. “I’m excited to network with sports industry people.”

Miller said that kind of exploration is central to the cohort. First- and second-year students may still be learning about the sports industry, searching for early experiences or deciding which career paths interest them most.

“Instead of pointing students simply to resources, we’re bringing the resources right to them and making it OK to ask questions about specifics,” Miller said.

The cohort also introduces students to career-readiness skills they can build throughout college as they prepare for internships and other professional opportunities.

Kupka said she hopes students finish the program with a clearer sense of what they want to pursue and greater confidence using the resources available to help them get there.

“I just want kids to know and understand what they want to do in their futures and know that they have all the resources to set themselves apart from others,” Kupka said.

For students like Ross, the Foundations Cohort offers a chance to begin that process before the pressure of internships and post-graduation plans arrives.

By starting with connections, exploration and career preparation early, SSI hopes students will be better prepared to take advantage of opportunities throughout their time at Ohio State.