Social Media Specialist, Delta State University

If you were to consider some wise advice to offer younger Caroline about life, either personal or professional, what would it be?

I would tell her that a job in sports is going to come with obstacles as a woman, obstacles I did not foresee for myself. You need to have a thick skin and be willing and able to stand up for yourself, even if doing so makes you “defensive” or “emotional” to others. I would tell her not to grow up too quickly. You are exactly where you need to be because God placed you there, doing exactly what you are doing for a reason. His plan is perfect. Embrace His plan for your life. Also, when you plan, God laughs. It’s not my plan. It’s His!

What opinions would you share about the importance of relationships and building relational equity along your journey?

I have learned a lot in my professional experience. I have learned a lot of skills from doing things on my own. If I don’t know how to do something, I will ask for help and/or try to find the answer myself, something I consider a strength. However, without the relationships I have cultivated over the years, with co-workers, educators, bosses and others, I would not be the successful young professional I am today. Without Steven Aldridge, I would not have gained a love for the sport management field. Without professors like Julie Powell and Matt Brunet, my interest in further education would have fizzled after earning a bachelor’s degree. I have a Master’s in Sport and Human Performance with an emphasis in sport management and am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sport Management. Julie played an integral part in my applying for the Ph.D. program and gave me the confidence that I could excel in that program. And I have by earning a 4.0 GPA through 30 hours of a 60-hour degree program. The old saying, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know,” is true. Although it diminishes the idea that it doesn’t matter what you know (i.e. your education), I believe your education coupled with the people, contacts, and relationships you create will ensure your success in any field. I continue to build relationships in my current position as a social media specialist at Delta State and in my Ph.D. program. The contacts I make are the references on my resume, and the people I call when I need advice on next life steps.

How do you see God’s hand print on your life as you take a glimpse into the rear view mirror?

God has led me to where I am today and has played every role into getting me where I am and where I will go. My personal story: I suffered a knee injury my freshman year of college (I thought it was the end of the world!) which allowed me to work in the sports information office. After working there, my interest in sport management emerged, and I changed my major. That led me to meeting Matt Jones at Delta State, where I earned a graduate assistantship which ultimately led me to meeting my husband, a football coach at Delta State. I was so angry at the time of my knee injury that I didn’t realize it was probably the greatest blessing in disguise. My life is nothing like I thought it would be 10 years ago or even five years ago, but I’m grateful because God’s plans were far superior to what I could have dreamed up for myself.

As someone who, over the years, has worked closely with people of all generations, how would you describe the value of those intergenerational relationships?

I continue to learn so much from people I have relationships with old and young. In my current profession, I have many audiences in which I need to appeal. It’s vital for me to understand people in all generations from alumni (older generation) to prospective students (Gen Z). Building relationships is important because you can learn so much from different people’s perspectives and life stories which can translate into your personal and professional life.