Photo courtesy of Zah Saunders ’27
Giovanni “Gio” Fornia isn’t just at Temple to gain an education.
He’s here to begin his journey of impacting the entire sport industry.
And his current trajectory suggests he’s going to be successful at it.
“I truly believe that the sport industry needs the great minds of minority individuals to help make a profound impact,” Fornia says.
“And like anything, the more diverse something is, the better and more creative it will be.”
Fornia, class of 2027, is pursuing his aspirations through student leadership. He currently serves as the president of the Society of Minorities in Sport (SMS) Student Professional Organization (SPO) within Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM).
Organized at STHM in 2016, the SPO prepares students from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to develop professional relationships and skills for successful futures within the sport industry. By building a strong community through shared experiences and connections with like-minded individuals, participation in the group can leave students with further education, professional development and connections to be the successful future leaders within the field.
Fornia, who rose to vice president of the group in just his first year on campus, has a deep passion for the group’s mission.
“As within many industries, but especially within sport, minoritized groups aren’t afforded as many resources to enter the industry as non-minoritized groups,” he says. “I am proud that we are a well-rounded organization that has those resources for students from similar backgrounds to give them a jump-start into the industry.”
The society’s student opportunities, resources and participation have notably expanded under Fornia. This is especially thanks to the group’s event offerings. In addition to standard general body meetings, they host community building events, fundraisers, Temple athletics “game watch” outings and viewing parties, professional headshot sessions and even hosting prominent sport industry professionals as guest speakers and panelists.
Guest speakers this semester have included individuals from professional sports organizations including the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia 76ers. Leaders from within Temple athletics also often address the group’s membership.
“We want to offer our members the opportunities to network and connect with people that come from a similar background as them and have achieved proven success within the field,” Fornia says. “Networking is key, and we are thrilled that we can bridge the gap between Temple and industry professionals for our students.
“I think it’s also important for professionals who come from minority backgrounds that have established successful careers to pass on their advice and knowledge—not only does it offer a chance for students to develop professionally, it’s a chance for seasoned professionals to help guide their development.”
Fornia pursues his own professional development to better his leadership skills. In addition to currently working as a sales representative with the Philadelphia 76ers’ Youth Foundation, he and his fellow SPO leadership team attended the annual “Get in the Game” Sports Conference hosted by the Sports Business Research Network in November 2024. Held in Baltimore, the event is intended for students of color and from minority groups who are interested in a career within the sport industry who attend historically Black colleges and universities.
“Attending the conference was an amazing opportunity,” Fornia says. “Our group finds the mission of ‘Get in the Game’ to strongly correlate with the same message we hope our organization can have on our members and their futures.
“One of the biggest takeaways I had from the event was feeling an even greater drive to grow our SPO and continue to help as many minority individuals as possible that are interested in the sport profession a chance to find success.”
The STHM community notices Fornia’s direction for the SPO.
“I am so proud of SMS,” says Ashley Gardner, the chapter’s faculty advisor and assistant professor in the STHM department of sport and recreation management.
“They have done an amazing job at creating a safe space for students of color within STHM and the Temple community at large, especially shown through their events and efforts towards giving back to the community.
“Gio is a great leader with a big vision for this group—I have no doubts he will continue to lead them to growth with intentionality.”
Additional faculty advisor Jonathan Howe adds “it is exciting to advise an organization like SMS, not only because the students are amazing, but also because of what the organization represents.
“Many of these students will work in sport organizations that are not necessarily representative of their minoritized social identities. Thus, being able to have a space to grow in community with other minoritized students as well as network and hear from diverse sport industry professionals is invaluable as they grow to be the next generation of sport leaders.”
As the growth of the group continues, Fornia is proud of the impact they have not only on their members, but the entire STHM community, too.
“STHM is a big family, and we mold our society to have that same concept,” Fornia says. “We strive to build intimate and family-like relationships between our members, our leadership and the guests we bring in. That shared experience creates meaningful connections, and ones that will help our members find professional success in the sport industry.”
To learn more about the Society of Minorities in Sport, visit their LinkedIn page or Instagram account page: @sms_sthm