Liberty sport management faculty present AI research at annual COSMA conference

Two Liberty University faculty members traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., in January for the 2025 Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) Conference, where they presented research and networked with leading industry professionals.

The conference, hosted by the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, allowed faculty and athletic administrators from around the country to meet and explore opportunities for growth in the discipline. COSMA is the accrediting body for Liberty’s sport management degree programs offered through the School of Business.

Dr. Laura Hatfield, department chair for Liberty’s Department of Hospitality & Sport Management, and Assistant Professor Chris Amos presented data on the enhancement of online programs with AI. They highlighted several key aspects where AI could positively impact the teaching of sport management courses, including modifying course outcomes, generating project ideas, and converting academic theory into practical application.

“It was eye-opening for a lot of other faculty,” Amos said. “Sometimes faculty tend to be older at some institutions, so technology is not necessarily something they feel super comfortable with, but to be able to demonstrate how it can not only save them time but improve the learning environment, help with student engagement, and make an online learner feel like they are more part of campus and not isolated —_­­ that’s a cool thing.”

While detailing the potential benefits of AI integration, Hatfield and Amos acknowledged crucial parameters necessary for ethical use. This included using AI to streamline editing processes without relying fully on the technology so faculty can still do their due diligence in classroom preparation and be proper role models for their students.

Through the COSMA conference and others, faculty can springboard ideas for educational growth in sport management and gain valuable insight from their peers to become even better educators themselves. These events also allow Liberty’s faculty to champion the university and its mission in the academic community.

“It’s important for faculty at Liberty to get off campus and represent what we are doing in these academic environments,” Hatfield said. “(For) individuals who may have some preconceived notions about what the faculty members or atmosphere are like on campus at Liberty, we’re able to demonstrate that we represent the founding mission of the institution and that we are excellent in our chosen field. I think that is very positive. We also have the opportunity to build our brand.”

“It’s very energizing to go to these conferences,” Amos added. “You get around other faculty and hear some awesome ideas and great research, but a lot of this conference was more about pedagogy, teaching, implementation, and internships. Research is great, but let’s put boots on the ground. What are we doing with our students? Being able to hear what other programs are doing, and best practices makes us better. That makes us better faculty, and we’re able to take some of those lessons back with us.”