Advisors

Alicia Jessop

Assistant Professor at Pepperdine University

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden

What is your experience working in the sports industry?

"I began working in sports in 2009, when I worked in sport sponsorship for Blue Diamond Almonds. In 2011, I started a sports law blog, RulingSports.com, which opened a career for me in sports media. Since 2011, I have been a sports business contributor for Forbes, CNBC and Sports Illustrated and currently write for The Huffington Post and Washington Post. Writing has allowed me to be a credentialed media member for the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, NBA All-Star Game, Final Four, Indianapolis 500, Bundesliga Super Cup and other global sporting events. In 2013 I left the full-time practice of law to enter academia as a professor in the Sport Administration program at the University of Miami. Today I teach Sport Law and Sport Marketing at Pepperdine, and while keeping my law licenses in California and Colorado active, I advise a number of athletes and sport industry businesses on legal matters."

Why did you decide to become an advisor?

"I'm passionate about mentoring the next generation of sport industry leaders and providing students opportunities to immerse themselves and become acquainted with the industry."

Favorite Athlete: Dwayne Wade

sam lagana

Associate Vice Chancellor at Pepperdine Univeristy

"Work as if everything depends upon you and give the greatest glory to God."

What is your experience working in the sports industry?

Sam Lagana has been engaged in the sports industry since his undergraduate days and continue to serve the industry in many fashions. Sam has 30 years of professional expertise in executive management, with specific expertise in external affairs business specializations including: advancement, development, community relations, marketing, promotions, public relations, broadcast television and radio production and sponsorship experience.

Mr. Lagana has enjoyed successful roles in sports at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club and as National Director of Sports at the renowned Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles. Sam handled the duties of Director of Athletics while serving as Associate Director of Athletics at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1993-1996) and Assistant Director of Athletics at Cal State Northridge (1989-1993) during the Matadors' entry into the Division I NCAA level of competition. Lagana managed numerous sporting events while directing promotions and public relations for the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Pro Beach Volleyball Tour in its infancy.

Sam is a recognized sports announcer, voice-over talent, and emcee. His announcing credits include television appearances on ABC, NBC, ESPN and Fox Sports for properties such as the the NFL, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Los Angeles Avengers Arena Football, the Arena Bowl, Davis Cup Tennis, EA Sports College basketball video games, NCAA and collegiate conference competitions and he appeared as himself in the motion picture "Sideout." He was the "Voice of Beach Volleyball" for the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour for nearly 20 years.

Philanthropically, Mr. Lagana has been a member of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission Advisory Board since 1997, serves as National Chairman of the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, and is active with USA on the Governance Committee. Sam has served as Chairman of the executive board of Westcoast Sports Associates and Board Chair of Palisades-Malibu YMCA. He maintains long-standing memberships in The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), among others.

In 2000, USA Volleyball presented Lagana with the Robert Lindsay Award for meritorious service to the sport's national governing body. In 2004, The Los Angeles Athletic Club presented Lagana with its highest honor, the "Dke Award", for outstanding contributions to club activities and sports in Los Angeles. In 2009, Lagana received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for community engagement and dedication, while in 2012, the California State Senate and Assembly honored him for his servant leadership.

Why did you decide to become an advisor?

While instructing a course in Strategic Marketing for Sports in the business division of Seaver College (18 students enrolled a semester), student Amir Mohamadzadeh approached Adjunct Professor Lagana to start an organization that could impact more students and be an outlet for great guest speakers and bonding for students interested in the business of sports. The concept was conceived in 2008 and founded in 2009 and Mr. Lagana has been advising SBA ever since. SBA has been a passion for him and Amir to see it continue to grow!

Favorite Athletes: John Wooden, Duke Kanahamoku, Jimmy Conners

About Sam:

Sam, his wife Eileen, and daughters Cambria (Pepperdine Class of 2017) and Cienna (Pepperdine Class of of 2021) reside in the Pacific Palisades, where Lagana has been named the Mort Faberow Award recipient as Pacific Palisades Businessman of the Year (2007). The Pacific Palisades Community Council presented Lagana the 2012 Golden Sparkplug Award for his contributions to the town.

In 2017, Mr. Lagana earned a Presidential Key Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine.

As Associate Vice Chancellor, Sam Lagana serves as an ambassador for the charitable initiatives at Pepperdine University by combining successful giving techniques with strategies that help donors achieve their goal of enhancing the experience of Pepperdine for the students, staff and administration. Mr. Lagana promotes a healthy discussion between alumni, parents, friends and students about their interaction with the campus and networks the University with a global community. At Pepperdine, he leads meetings for the proposed University Events & Convocation Center, the Pepperdine Athletics Board, and presents “Philanthropy with Purpose, Pride & Passion” lectures. Sam enjoys hosting exciting and innovative events and activities, receptions and outreach activities on campus and throughout the nation. He is active in his faith and inspiring people to do good works.

In addition to his role at Pepperdine, Sam is the Stadium Voice of the Los Angeles Rams!