Ryleigh Pineda, a 2025 graduate of the Lerner College of Business and Economics as a sport management major, built her college experience around hands-on learning, leadership and a passion for the sports industry. Pineda gained early experience working with athletics facilities and event operations, eventually growing into supervisory and internship roles. She also expanded her industry perspective through an operations internship with NBCUniversal during coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Today, she continues building her career in professional sports as an associate in guest experience with the New York Mets. Pineda reflects on the coursework, mentorship and experiences that helped shape her path toward a career in sports facilities and event operations.
Lerner: Why did you decide to pursue your program at the Lerner College?
Pineda: Lerner College is a top ranked business school and I knew that I would be set up for success. Combined with a campus dedicated to athletics and the opportunity to pursue a major in sport management with a minor in event management, it made attending Lerner and the University of Delaware an easy choice.
Lerner: What did you learn through this opportunity that you wouldn’t have learned anywhere else?
Pineda: Having such easy access to an extraordinary D1 athletic program made for endless opportunities. I started working with the facilities and event operations team my second month into college part-time as an event staff member and that grew into a supervisory promotion, internship positions and volunteer opportunities. I was also able to learn from other departments such as equipment and communications and learning from a team that felt like family is something I don’t think I would have experienced at another university.
Lerner: Please share an example of a course or concept that you were able to apply directly to your life and/or career.
Pineda: In Spring 2024, I took the Applied Sport Event Management course where I was part of the inaugural class that organized the Blue Hen Sport Summit and Career Fair as a member of the operations team. Through my role, I learned how to communicate more effectively with my classmates and other professionals within the University; I managed multiple deadlines and tasks at one time, and I solved problems in real time to get the results our team needed.
Lerner: Describe an important connection you have made through your program (personal, professional, peers, mentors, professors, etc.)
Pineda: There have been multiple important connections I have made through my program. Professionally, Professor Allgood has been a mentor and professor for me. I was vice president of the Future Professionals of the Sport Management Industry Club, which he advises, and he pushed me in ways I didn’t know I needed to be pushed. Whether that was having more confidence in myself and my decisions or encouraging me, he helped me step outside of my comfort zone. On a personal level, many of my closest friends were in the program with me and I truly believe that my experience would not have been the same without the friendships, support and shared experiences we built together.
Lerner: If you were to describe your classmates in one word, what would that be?
Pineda: I would describe them as ambitious. A lot of my classmates put themselves in positions to succeed. Whether that was working for the athletics department, interning for different sport organizations, serving on executive boards/being active members in RSOs or creating new RSOs, they were constantly trying to gain as much experience as possible to thrive within the industry.
Lerner: How did you balance your career with your studies?
Pineda: A lot of time management. While in school, I had a monthly calendar that I used to track all of my exams and project deadlines, shifts for my part-time job and club meetings. I also had a separate weekly calendar that was hour by hour. I blocked out the times I had classes and then with the remaining available time, I scheduled time to work on certain homework assignments. It may sound like a lot of planning, but throughout college, there was no weekend where I was completing my homework and it worked out well for me.
Lerner: Fill in this sentence: “My program helped me become…”
Pineda: Both confident and kind while learning to be assertive.
Lerner: What piece(s) of advice would you give to current UD students?
Pineda: My biggest piece of advice would be to put yourself out there and try new things. It could be joining a new club, going to a career fair or connecting with someone on LinkedIn. You never know where any of it can lead you and something you thought you would hate could turn into something you end up loving. You’ll never know until you try and sometimes the thing that scares you the most is what pushes you to grow the most. Take advantage of all the different opportunities and resources that UD has to offer.
Lerner: What are your professional plans or next steps for the future?
Pineda: My plan for the future is to pursue facilities and event operations roles within sports.
Lerner: What piece(s) of advice do you have for fellow businesspeople?
Pineda: My advice would be to lead with compassion and remember what it felt like when you were first starting your career. Graduating college and navigating what your life and career will look like can be intimidating. Because of that, it’s important to be patient, supportive and open to helping others grow and fostering genuine connections.
Lerner: What does it mean to you to be a Lifelong Lerner?
Pineda: Being a Lifelong Lerner means challenging yourself, embracing failure as part of the process and having the courage to try something new. Success looks different for everyone and I believe it is important for each person to define what success truly means to them. Lerner encourages curiosity and initiative while providing the tools and support you need to grow into the best version of yourself.