Emily Peebles ’25: Showing Up & Working Hard
Sport Clubs Graduate Assistant prepares for a career in sport management after six years with the Rec
Over the past six years, she has walked through the Rec’s doors more times than any other building on campus. First as an undergraduate with Intramural Sports, then as a Graduate Assistant for Sport Clubs. Now, after honing her skills, creating lasting relationships, and gaining invaluable experience, Emily Peebles ’25 is preparing to graduate with a master’s degree in sport management.
From officiating basketball games to becoming a sport coordinator, Peebles gained experience in leadership, conflict resolution, and event management during her time with Intramural Sports. Her track record of hard work and love of sports led her to apply for the Sport Clubs graduate assistant position, where she could focus more on behind-the-scenes operations.
“As a graduate assistant, there are two of us, and we support the three great professional staff members we have here at Sport Clubs,” she said. “A lot of that is just general administration, management, and making sure that everything is running smoothly for our 39 sport clubs. I directly advise four of them, which is a really great opportunity.”Peebles works closely with men’s volleyball, women’s lacrosse, swimming, and golf. Each club has unique needs, and she enjoys the variety that comes with managing different teams across campus.
“All very different sports, all kind of need different things, and they all operate in different facilities here on campus, which is my favorite part,” Peebles said. “I get to touch a lot of different places.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of her role has been mentoring student leaders and staff members.
“I like to think of myself as someone that they can come to,” she said. “I really take pride in the fact that they can come to me as the bridge between professional staff and student life because I can see both sides. I’m in a good middle spot.”
And just as her skills carried from Intramural Sports to Sport Clubs, Peebles has developed essential tools during her time as a graduate assistant that will carry into a career in sports management.
“The biggest skill that I’ve learned here is adaptability,” she said. “Things change fast here in Sport Clubs. Being able to move on the fly is going to be very beneficial to me in the career I want to work in. Adaptability is a huge piece in the administrative, behind-the-scenes for a professional team or league.”
As she prepares to leave, Peebles hopes her time at Rec Sports will inspire future students to embrace hard work and commitment.
“I hope to have left a legacy of hard work,” she said. “Just setting a good example for all the students I’ve interacted with over the years. Hopefully, they see me as someone who showed up every day, worked hard, and did what she could behind the scenes to make their lives a little easier.”
