Multimedia | Collegiate Athletics and Esports
Higher Ed Advisor: Southern University creates innovative footprint in the esports metaverse
Oct 05, 2021
Welcome to Higher Ed Advisor, the Baker Tilly podcast series where we speak with higher education industry leaders about practical and proactive guidance to help colleges and universities protect and enhance their value.
What started as a K-12 level esports program at the Southern University Lab School (SU Lab) in the summer of 2019 launched into one of the most successful collegiate esports programs at Southern University (SU), a historically black university (HBCU), in September 2020. Under the management of Head Esports Coach Chris Turner, SU opened one of the first major esports facilities that now hosts more than 100 student gamers.
Coach Turner and Director of Development, Robert Harrison, share SU’s esports journey, including the process of soliciting and receiving leadership and funding support to build the esports lab and grow the program. From engaging corporate donors for sponsorships and grants to hosting an annual crawfish boil, they demonstrated how investing in collegiate esports enhances the student experience and aligns with the university’s mission to prepare students for the world and workforce.
Learn about SU’s vision for building a student-centered, opportunity-driven esports program that provides numerous avenues for student success and their commitment to these four pillars:
- Careers
- Competition
- Community
- Health and wellness
Interested in more podcasts on collegiate athletics and esports?
Higher Ed Advisor host
David Capitano
As the firm’s higher education practice leader, Dave Capitano provides oversight to more than 200 team members serving over 400 colleges, universities, research institutions and higher education systems across the United States.
Meet this episode’s guest speakers
- Christopher Turner, General Manager and Head Esports Coach, Southern University and Southern University Laboratory School
- Robert Harrison, Director of Development, Southern University System Foundation
Esports in higher education: key considerations for starting a program at your college or university
Baker Tilly’s esports evaluation guide helps colleges and universities establishing or enhancing an esports program.
Additional resources
Connect with usFor more information, or to learn how Baker Tilly’s higher education specialists can help your institution implement or grow an esports program, contact our team.
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