Stand-out students representative of the many success stories among graduates of the School’s practice-based degree programs

Female Graduates of the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Class of 2011 Prepare to Leave Their Mark in Male-Dominated Industries

Stand-out students representative of the many success stories among graduates of the
School’s practice-based degree programs

As members of the Class of 2011 prepare for Convocation and Commencement, the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) is recognizing three female graduates who are pursuing career paths in two traditionally male-dominated industries: construction management and sports business.

Lucy Ulmer, who pursued a Master of Science in Construction Management; Michele Kuehl, who completed a Master of Science in Sports Business; and Ashley Schwartz, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, will graduate on May 16, celebrating their achievements during the NYU-SCPS Convocation Ceremony at the Grand Hyatt.  

Not too long ago, women in construction only held front-office jobs. Times are changing, and today, women are beginning to see construction management as an industry that offers greater professional opportunity and career advancement. Lucy Ulmer entered the M.S. in Construction Management program at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate with construction litigation experience from her time as a paralegal.  Inspired by a course in community development, she chose a concentration in construction management for the development process, which included a capstone project planning the development of a commercial building in lower Manhattan. She also served as a student representative for the Construction Management Association of America and participated in a weekly seminar in which real estate developers discussed their projects. After graduation, Ulmer will continue to work at her current firm in a newly created position combining litigation and claims analysis.

Sports business is another profession that is beginning to experience an uptick in the number of women who are choosing to turn their interest in and passion for athletics into a full-time career off the playing field, or in Michele Kuehl’s case, off the ice.  A former national figure skating champion, Kuehl enrolled in the M.S. in Sports Business program at the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management to learn the business side of the sports industry. Kuehl cites “Revenue Strategies and Pricing” as one of her favorite courses, noting that the class included a session with a top industry executive who provided an in-depth overview of the New York Yankees’ pricing strategies. Additionally, a course in planning and development of major sporting events was held at Yankee Stadium prior to a fundraising event, providing her and fellow students with a concrete illustration of how professional sports organizations use space during the off-season to increase revenue. While pursuing her graduate studies, Kuehl taught skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park, a “uniquely New York opportunity,” which she believes will ultimately help her to reach her goal of working for the U.S. Olympic Committee or the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

A December 2010 graduate, Ashley Schwartz has taken an interest in sports marketing. She is currently participating in a six-month fellowship with Major League Baseball (MLB). Working with the League's corporate sales and marketing team, Schwartz is reviewing content for Electronic Video Insertion—the virtual advertisements behind home plate that TV viewers see during televised games—and updating sales presentations that pitch sponsorships for this year’s All-Star Fan Fest. During her time at the Tisch Center, Schwartz completed several hands-on learning experiences, including an internship with the American Youth Football program. In addition, her coursework helped to hone her analytical, public relations, and marketing skills. Schwartz also co-chaired the annual awards event and internship fair for the Sports Business Society, a student-run organization. She is especially interested in pursuing a career path that involves the use of social media in sports marketing.

Students who graduate from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies gain the knowledge base and the skills needed to advance or to break into a broad array of up-and-coming industries. Ulmer, Kuehl, and Schwartz are but a few examples of students who have been able to utilize the NYU-SCPS practice-based learning model to positively impact their careers and their lives.

Student photos and interviews are available upon request by contacting cheryl.feliciano@nyu.edu.

NYU-SCPS Convocation Ceremonies

This year, the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies will confer master’s degrees and graduate certificates upon 869 graduate students, and associate’s and bachelor’s degrees upon 290 undergraduate students during its Convocation on May 16th, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.  The Graduate Convocation procession will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom, and the Undergraduate Convocation procession will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the same location. Receptions will follow each at 1:30 p.m. and at 7:30 pm. respectively. Arianna Huffington, the president and editor-in-chief of The AOL Huffington Post Media Group, and Steve Grove, head of News and Politics at YouTube, have been slated as the keynote speakers for the Graduate and Undergraduate Convocation ceremonies.

For more information about the NYU-SCPS Convocation Ceremony, please visit scps.nyu.edu/graduation.

About the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Established in 1934, NYU-SCPS (scps.nyu.edu) is one of NYU’s several degree-granting schools and colleges, each with a unique academic profile. The reputation of NYU-SCPS arises from its place as the NYU home for study and applied research related to key knowledge-based industries where the New York region leads globally. This is manifest in the School’s diverse graduate, undergraduate, and continuing education programs in fields such as Real Estate and Construction Management; Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management; Global Affairs; Philanthropy and Fundraising; Graphic Communications Media, Publishing, and Digital Arts; Human Capital Management, Marketing, and Public Relations; with complementary strengths in the Liberal and Allied Arts, Translation and Interpreting, Management and Information Technology, and Finance and Taxation. More than 100 distinguished full-time faculty members collaborate with an exceptional cadre of practitioner/adjunct faculty and lecturers to create vibrant professional and academic networks that attract some 4,800 degree-seeking students from around the globe. In addition, the School fulfills the recurrent continuing higher education needs of local and professional communities, as evidenced by 54,000 annual enrollments in individual courses, specialized certificate programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, and public events. NYU-SCPS is especially proud of the ever-growing worldwide network of its supportive degree-holding alumni, now more than 25,000 strong.

Press Contacts

Cheryl Feliciano
Cheryl Feliciano
(212) 998-6865
Christopher James
Christopher James
(212) 998-6876