Cara Seufert (center), class of 2026, is the president of the Women in Sport and Recreation Management Student Professional Organization. (Photo by Solomon Jones)
“I’ve been a part of this group since its beginning in 2022, which was also my first year on campus,” Seufert said.
Today, she helps its mission continue to move forward as the group’s president.
Meet Women in Sport and Recreation Management, a student professional organization (SPO) at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management. Led by Seufert, the group is dedicated to uplifting women looking to enter the sport and recreation industries through offering a community of like-minded peers to work together while creating positive connections and culture.
To Seufert and the group’s members, the SPO provides a critical element in their journey to their professional pursuits.
“I am very passionate about our SPO’s work because I am a woman gaining experience and looking to work professionally in the sport industry—sport and recreation professions are often times very male-dominated,” Seufert, a senior sport and recreation management major, explains.
“We have created a positive environment that aims to educate, support and encourage women on their professional journeys within these industries.
“We are all working together toward our shared common goal: improving women’s representation in sport and recreation.”
Wanting to showcase to their peers that they are not alone in their efforts of breaking through professionally, Seufert and the other SPO members have built their SPO community through a variety of ways.
In addition to regularly hosting group meetings, the chapter has outings to Temple athletic events and holds educational sessions, like how to improve your interview skills. Their successful guest speaker series, “girl bosses in sports,” has proven beneficial to the group, too.
Elizabeth Taylor, an associate professor at STHM and faculty advisor of the group, can attest to their interactive initiatives.
“This group has engaged with women executives from around the country to better understand what it’s like to work in sport and how they can build a successful career in the industry,” Taylor said.
“In addition, this group routinely engages with women in sport events hosted by STHM, Temple Athletics, and youth sport/recreation groups around the Philadelphia area. They are incredibly passionate about the industry and love giving back to the sport community.”
Taylor is proud to see what the group has achieved.
“Given the underrepresentation of women in the sport industry, the Women in Sport and Recreation group provides an important opportunity for our women students to connect, build networks, and support each other.”
As Seufert prepares for her graduation from STHM, she acknowledges that the SPO will continue to thrive.
“I’m very proud of the work that we have done, but in the next three to five years, the organization is set up to grow and get even more people involved,” Seufert said.
“I believe our group strongly represents STHM in a positive way. STHM is a school that supports individuals moving into the sport, tourism and hospitality spaces, which we take great pride in as a chapter, too.”