Inaugural summer trip to Australia provides ASU Law students with invaluable insight into international sports communities

A group of students from Arizona State University had the unique opportunity to travel to Melbourne as part of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law's Allan "Bud" Selig Sports Law and Business (SLB) program. This study abroad experience focused on Australian sports law and business and marked a milestone as SLB's inaugural traveling class.

The trip, titled "An International Perspective: Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)," allowed students to delve into Melbourne's sports history, experience its vibrant food and culture, and attend live sports events. Rather than traditional classroom learning, the students interacted with representatives from various local sports entities, such as the AFL, AFLPA, Cricket Australia, St. Kilda Football Club, Carlton Football Club, Football Victoria and the PGA of Australia.

SLB Assistant Dean and Executive Director Aaron Hernandez co-taught the course alongside Diana Bowman, a distinguished professor of law and an associate dean for applied research and partnerships at ASU, and emphasized the importance of gaining insight into different sports communities worldwide.

"Diverse perspectives in sports will help set students up for a successful career, where they have a bigger bank of ideas to draw from when solving complex problems in their respective organizations," Hernandez said.

For recent SLB graduate Will Scott, visiting St. Kilda Football Club was the trip's highlight."Spending an entire day with an Australian Football League team made me a fan for life," said Scott. "Visiting a new place and having a sports-oriented learning experience was an amazing opportunity. I learned a lot about sports outside of the U.S., which will benefit my career."

Third-year law student Jake Johnson shared that the trip was his chance to explore international employment opportunities. "I wanted to experience Australia for myself and connect with professionals in the sports industry to potentially pursue employment down under," he said. "I believe it is extremely important for law students to do everything in their power to enhance their global perspective."

Similarly, Ciara Gaines, a master of legal studies student, also viewed the trip as a chance to build global connections. "We sometimes get stuck in our own U.S. bubble and fail to realize there is so much life and things to learn outside of our borders, especially in a career like law, where things are evolving and changing," Gaines said.

She added that the trip offered her an opportunity many online students like herself may not typically encounter. "I really want online students to know these opportunities are available to us," she said. "You can learn so much about different cultures, legal principles and how other countries operate through the wonderful programs ASU Law offers."

Hernandez spoke enthusiastically about the inaugural trip, emphasizing its enriching impact on all participants. He looks forward to seeing how students will use their newfound knowledge to propel their future careers to new heights.

"Not only did the trip expose students to a new country, it also connected them to decision-makers abroad in the sports industry," he said. "It really was a transformational experience for everyone involved."

Given the resounding success of the traveling class, Hernandez shared that SLB will be planning another exciting journey to Australia next year.

Written by Andrea Estrada