Citing his lifelong example of hard work, dedication and philanthropy as the foundation by which countless students will measure their future success, the Michael D. Veley Endowed Scholarship has been created to support undergraduate students at Syracuse University in the College of Human Ecology’s Department of Sport Management.
The fund was created this past spring in recognition of Veley’s ongoing and significant contributions to Syracuse University, the College of Human Ecology, the Department of Sport Management and the hundreds of students whose lives have been impacted by his leadership as department chair, professor, advisor and mentor.
“Having spent over 25 years in and around intercollegiate athletics, I believe Michael Veley to be one of the great men in our business. His influence on students, including student-athletes, has been utterly profound. Syracuse University made a wise choice entrusting the stewardship of its sport management program to Michael,” says Ben C. Sutton, Jr., founder and chairman of ISP Sports and member of the Sport Management Advisory Board. “He loves the institution, and more importantly he is dedicated to helping develop graduates to enter this highly competitive world with the right skills to succeed and lead. This scholarship is a fitting tribute to a terrific professional.”
“We are so proud to have Michael as a colleague in the College of Human Ecology leading his department with a cutting-edge academic program,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of the College of Human Ecology. “He is a stunning visionary, teacher and leader. The entire college benefits from his multiple talents and his deep commitment to his students. The scholarship fund in his name is a most fitting acknowledgement of his many enormous talents.”
Veley was named the inaugural director of the Department of Sport Management in June 2005, a role he currently holds in addition to his appointment as professor of practice. He was named “Voice of the Carrier Dome” in 2006 and is the public address announcer for SU football, men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse games.
“I will forever be indebted to Professor Veley for his endless effort to create more learning experiences and work opportunities for myself and all his students,” says Carly Peters (SPM ’08). “He is not only a great teacher, but a great leader. His leadership of the Sport Management Club showed us that succeeding in the sport industry means nothing unless you better yourself and the community.”
The Sport Management Club (SPM Club), the largest student-run organization on the SU campus, has raised more than $75,000 for local charities through its annual Charity Sports Auction. The SPM Club is one of several experiential learning opportunities envisioned by Veley to help students gain hands-on experiences to prepare for a competitive job market. Veley’s vision has resulted in SU hosting the first collegiate chapter in the country for Women in Sports and Events (WISE) beginning this fall. WISE is the leading voice and resource for women in the sports and events industry. As part of the department’s continued growth, efforts are currently under way in the College of Human Ecology to develop an interdisciplinary master’s degree in sport management through the David B. Falk Center for Sport Management.
“I was fortunate enough to have Michael Veley as both a professor and mentor during my four years at Syracuse. His passion for the industry is unmatched and is funneled through to each and every student who is involved with the sport management program. His guidance, direction and confidence in his students will undoubtedly produce the next generation of sport industry professionals,” says Matt Van Pelt (SPM ’08), a media relations manager with the Tri-City Valley Cats.
Previously, Veley taught marketing and public relations courses as an adjunct professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Martin J. Whitman School of Management. He also spent nearly two decades working as a Division I athletic administrator at Cornell and Syracuse, where he implemented several marketing, communications and corporate sponsorship initiatives, generating a $4 million-a-year enterprise.
“I am humbled by this honor. The most precious gift a person can receive is a quality education, and the generosity and financial support of friends, colleagues and supporters of our program will ensure that generations of students will be the beneficiaries of their philanthropy,” says Veley.
To make contributions to the Michael D. Veley Endowed Scholarship Fund, contact the College of Human Ecology’s Office of Advancement at (315) 443-8989 or dasalang@syr.edu.
About the College of Human Ecology at Syracuse University
The College of Human Ecology is dedicated to excellence in professional academic education and integrates publicly engaged scholarship as a philosophy and method in all of its degree programs. The college brings together a rich history of academic programs whose signatures of social responsibility and justice join new and evolving majors reflective of educating global citizens whose leadership can—and does—change the places and people where they live and work.
Previously known as the College of Human Services and Health Professions until it was renamed in 2007, the College of Human Ecology hosts seven departments with strong roots in SU history: Child and Family Studies; Health and Wellness; Hospitality Management; Marriage and Family Therapy; Nutrition Science and Dietetics; Sport Management; and the School of Social Work.
