LSU Sport Management Graduate Student Takes First Place in Research Competition at Applied Sport Management Association Conference
March 11, 2026
BATON ROUGE, LA — Joelle J. Ferguson, MS, a sport management doctoral student in the LSU School of Kinesiology, won first place in the graduate student research competition at the 2026 Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA) Conference hosted by Temple University. 
“I am grateful for the opportunity to compete in the 2026 ASMA Graduate Student research competition alongside several talented and passionate individuals. My motivation for this project stems from a critical research gap concerning the perspective of funding partners within the Sport for Development field. I look forward to continuing this line of research and contributing to the development of more structured and sustainable approaches to funder-driven capacity-building initiatives.”
Her presentation, “Beyond the Grant: An Examination of Funder-Driven Capacity in Sport for Development” addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding how grantmaking foundations support nonprofits using sport to tackle critical issues in communities around the world. Ferguson is advised by Per Svensson, PhD, associate professor in sport management at LSU.
“This award speaks to Joelle’s ability to conduct high-quality and impactful research,” Svensson said. “She was purposefully recruited to LSU to be part of a research team establishing LSU as one of the global leaders in researching how to develop more sustainable and impactful organizations intentionally leveraging sport for good. The research she won the award for represents innovative, cutting-edge scholarship with a hard-to-reach population of powerful funding agencies. Her research has the potential to transform funder-grantee relationships within the global Sport for Good field.”
“This award shows the capabilities of Joelle and the dedication of Dr. Svensson to attract, teach and mentor bright students by including them in a winning team recognized for their highly impactful and innovative research,” Arend Van Gemmert, PhD, LSU School of Kinesiology director, said. “The School of Kinesiology is very fortunate to have Dr. Svensson with his research team being part of our division of sport management.”
About the LSU School of Kinesiology
The LSU School of Kinesiology (SOK) advances the understanding of physical activity,
sport, and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through
excellence in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement. SOK offers a BS, MS,
Online MS, PhD, and two certificate options. Graduates go on to successful careers
in the health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, sport agencies and businesses,
athletic administration, and K-12 educational settings. SOK is part of the College
of Human Sciences & Education.