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The School of Communications began the 2025-26 academic year by welcoming Lindsay Pieper, a new assistant professor of sport management.

Prior to her arrival at 51������, Pieper taught sport management at the University of Lynchburg for 13 years, serving as department chair during her last three years.

During her tenure at Lynchburg, Pieper also published two books, “Sex Testing: Gender Policing in Women’s Sport” and “Women in the Olympics.” Her research has been featured in several academic journals as well, including “Sport in Society” and the “Journal of Sport History.”

Pieper said she hopes to use her research expertise and experience to help Elon students with their own undergraduate research projects. This semester, she is teaching Sport Data and Research, already guiding students on data-driven projects.

“I look forward to expanding that beyond just this semester and hopefully working with students on a topic or research project about which they are passionate about and then hopefully into a publishable piece at the end,” Pieper said.

While Pieper said that it was bittersweet to leave Lynchburg due to the student and faculty relationships she built, she expressed that she was drawn to Elon because of the university’s emphasis on student experiences, particularly undergraduate research.

“The focus on undergrad teaching combined with the innovation of the sport management program were the two driving factors,” Pieper said. “The opportunities Elon affords students are unparalleled and really remarkable.”

Likewise, Pieper said she is excited to begin building relationships with her students in and outside of the classroom.

“I’ve been watching down the hallway and seeing all the rapport between my sport management colleagues and the students, and I look forward to developing those same relationships and bonds,” Pieper said.

While earning her master’s and doctorate degrees at The Ohio State University, Pieper studied not only sport management, but also sport humanities and women’s history. She plans to incorporate her areas of expertise into her Elon classes, educating students on why sport history, sport sociology and sport philosophy are impactful to their studies.

“There’s so much going on right now, particularly with gender issues in sports,” Pieper said. “I’d like to share that with Elon students so that they have the tools to be able to navigate what’s happening.”

Outside the classroom, she enjoys time with her children and is an avid pickleball player, already impressed by the new Burlington Pickleball Complex courts.