With a career spanning more than 25 years, Paul M. Pedersen, Ph.D. has made an indelible impact on the nationally acclaimed Indiana University School of Public Health (SPH-B) Sport Marketing and Management Program, particularly in the key discipline of sport communication, during his long tenure with the Department of Kinesiology. It comes as no surprise to the SPH-B community that the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) would bestow upon Dr. Pedersen the 2025 Distinguished Research Award.
"I was so grateful and honored when I received the news about being selected for this award," shares Dr. Pedersen. "While the recognition is given to an individual, it could easily be considered a joint award with the 57 completed doctoral students with whom I have researched, published, chaired, or served in some capacity during my time here at IU."
A Hoosier through and through for a quarter century, Dr. Pedersen is the founding editor of the International Journal of Sport Communication (IJSC) and lead author or editor of a dozen books, including Strategic Sport Communication (fourth edition), Contemporary Sport Management (eighth edition), and Handbook of Sport Communication (second edition). As a research fellow with NASSM for the majority of his career as well as former director of the SPH-B Sport Marketing and Management Program, Dr. Pedersen has published more than 125 articles in peer-reviewed journals and hundreds of non–peer-reviewed publications, serving to advance both theoretical and empirical knowledge in sport communication and management, according to Kevin K. Byon, Ph.D., colleague and current director of the Sport Marketing and Management Program.
"This prestigious recognition reinforces IU’s reputation as a powerhouse and think tank for sport management research," says Dr. Byon. "It not only honors Dr. Pedersen’s remarkable contributions but also reflects positively on our program, enhancing its visibility and reputation."
The Sport Marketing and Management Program is ranked among the top five out of 800-plus programs nationwide, with more than 70 graduates from the doctoral program. Dr. Byon says that Dr. Pedersen’s commitment to excellence has elevated the program tremendously, and this most recent accolade will serve to draw in more prospective students and graduate-level applications.
"The program has a rich history with NASSM, and we have been actively involved for many years, with faculty and students regularly participating in conferences and contributing to the organization’s initiatives," says Antonio Williams, Ph.D., assistant dean of business development and strategic innovation and one of Dr. Pedersen’s former doctoral advisees. "Dr. Pedersen’s work brings great pride to the program and inspires everyone to strive for excellence in their own endeavors."
Dr. Williams also notes that Dr. Pedersen is considered by many in the field to be “The Godfather of Sport Communication." Drawing on Dr. Pedersen’s expertise, Dr. Byon says program goals for 2025 include "further enhancing the quality of our classroom instruction and expanding the dissemination of knowledge through scholarly publications and presentations." Dr. Williams adds that further emphasis on hands-on learning experiences, increased industry partnerships, and opportunities for students to directly engage in cutting-edge research collaboration with Indianapolis sport industry leaders are all top priorities for the coming year.
Dr. Byon adds, "I am committed to ensuring that our curriculum remains at the forefront of sport management education while fostering an environment of research excellence and innovation. As a key leader in our program, Dr. Pedersen will continue to contribute his expertise to these efforts, helping us maintain our leadership in the field."
For more inspiring stories about SPH-B students, faculty, and staff, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.