About us
Scott N. Brooks, PhD
Director
Dr. Scott N. Brooks is Director of the Global Sport Institute and oversees all of its activities. Dr. Brooks is also an Associate Professor with the T. Denny Sanford School of Social & Family Dynamics at the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at ASU. Previously, as Director of Research for the Institute he acted as campus liaison, assisted in the allocation of research grants, and coordinated the Institute's research agenda and projects. He also served two years as interim School Director for the Sanford School. Prior to arriving at ASU, Dr. Brooks served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the Graduate School of Education at the University of California-Riverside, and was an associate professor at UCR and the University of Missouri.
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As a scholar, Brooks is primarily interested in: youth and sport; inequality in sport, coaching and leadership; and community based sports interventions. He has published in academic journals, edited volumes, and textbooks; been quoted and reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Der Speigel, and SLAM magazine; and invited to speak on the topic of sport internationally. His book, Black Men Can’t Shoot (University of Chicago, 2009), tells the importance of exposure, networks, and opportunities towards earning an athletic scholarship. Additionally, Dr. Brooks has consulted the NFL, MLB, college and high school coaches and athletes; and is a senior fellow at the Wharton Sports Business Initiative and Yale Urban Ethnography Project.
Jeff Kunowski
Associate Director, Sports Innovation and Business Development
Jeff Kunowski is the Associate Director of Sports Innovation and Business Development for the Global Sport Institute. Jeff oversees the Global Sport Institute’s sport-related development and funding programs including the Global Sport Venture Development Program and the Global Sport Social Impact Challenge. He serves this role in a dual appointment with Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute.
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He also serves as an advisor for numerous start-ups and is a member of the ASU W.P. Carey Sports Business Advisory Board. In addition to his role with the Global Sport Institute, Jeff was recently brought on by Leyard/Planar, a world leader in digital display technologies, to manage business development in the sports and entertainment markets. Prior to joining Leyard/Planar, Jeff held several positions with Panasonic Corporation of North America focused on sports venue technology. He joined Panasonic after reaching an aqua-hire deal with MK Solutions Group, a Scottsdale based consulting firm that he co-founded. Jeff got his start in the sports business space in 2010 when he founded Illumin8 Outdoor Media, an award-winning signage company based in Phoenix, AZ.
Casey Sechler, PhD
Associate Director, Research
Casey Sechler is the Associate Director, Research for the Global Sport Institute where she advances the Institute’s research initiatives. This involves providing key support to the Director of Research to develop, execute, and manage strategic plans for research projects and assists in the allocation of internal and external research grants. As a scholar, Sechler conducts and applies research that promotes positive development (with particular emphasis on youth); social and emotional learning; and advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
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Casey Sechler holds a PhD and Master of Science in Family & Human Development (FHD) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in FHD from Arizona State University. Prior to joining the GSI team, Sechler was a lecturer in the School of Social & Family Dynamics at ASU where she was involved in teaching, mentorship, curriculum development, and research and advisory partnerships with youth-serving organizations such as community-based organizations and schools. She also served as co-chair of a summer fellowship program she collaboratively designed and implemented to support undergraduate students from historically underrepresented or excluded groups as they gain exposure to and experience with research and careers in the social and behavioral sciences.
Kendall Jones
Manager, Strategic Initiative
Kendall Jones is the Strategic Initiative Manager for the Global Sport Institute. Prior to her position with the Global Sport Institute, she served six years as the Community Outreach Manager at Local First Arizona, an organization building a strong local economy and celebrating vibrant, inclusive communities across the state.
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As the Community Outreach Manager, she oversaw all volunteers, developed content for educational events, and managed membership programs. Kendall received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Arizona State University in 2013 before joining the AmeriCorps program, Public Allies of Arizona. During her 2013-14 service term, she was placed with Local First Arizona as their Events and Volunteer Coordinator.
Ra Lofton
Project Coordinator
Ra has their Masters in International Cooperation and Development from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Their focus is in Sport for Development. Prior to moving to Italy for their Masters, they graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies.
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Following their studies, they worked in Community Relations and Events for the Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors. They then transitioned into the world of entertainment where they worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment in their Worldwide Distribution Analytics group and served as the events chair on the board of OUT @ SPE, their employee business resource group.
Aidan Corrales
Marketing and Communications AssistantAidan is a Marketing and Communications Assistant at Global Sport Institute. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Sports Business and is pursuing a Master's degree at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Leadership and Management.
Robert W. Turner II, PhD
Global Sport Visiting Scholar
As a visiting fellow, Robert W. Turner II helps leadership identify potential topics of research, conducts research with the Global Sport Lab, and contributes to Global Sport Matters and Institute events.
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Robert W. Turner II is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science. He earned his Ph.D. in sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. He also holds a position as a Research Scientist in the Center for Biobehavioral Health Disparities Research at Duke University. After attending James Madison University on an athletic scholarship, Dr. Turner played football professionally in the now-defunct United States Football League, the Canadian Football League, and briefly in the National Football League. Dr. Turner is an active member of his local church and serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, D.C.
Luke Padwe
Digital Communications AssistantLuke is a Digital Communications Assistant at the Global Sport Institute. He is in his senior year pursuing a degree in Graphic Design and Visual Communication, paired with a minor in Sales and Marketing Essentials, and is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2024.