Dr. Cheryl R. Rode

Biography

Dr. Cheryl R. Rode joined Niagara University in Fall 2017. Dr. Rode received her B.S. in Horticulture (2001), B.S. in Agriculture Science with teacher certification (2004), and M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport Management (2008) from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. She received her Ph.D. in Sport Studies with a concentration in Sport Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2015. Prior to coming to Niagara University, Dr. Rode taught at Texas Tech University and Ohio Dominican University. Dr. Rode also worked as an academic advisor for undeclared students at Texas A&M as well as spent seven years as an academic tutor and learning specialist in the Texas A&M athletic department.

Dr. Rode’s area of research focuses on sport tourism, specifically motivations to travel to college football games. Previous research has focused on individuals that utilize a recreational vehicle (RV) to travel to sporting events which includes tailgating and the ability to provide one’s own accommodations and meals. In addition to sport tourism related research, Dr. Rode has interests in gender issues within sport including women in sport, transgender issues in sport participation, and experiential learning in sport management settings. Her research has been published in the Global Sport Business Journal and the Journal of Sport. Dr. Rode has presented at several regional, national and international sport management conferences including the North American Society for Sport Management, College Sport Research Institute, and Sport Entertainment & Venues Tomorrow.

Focus of Teaching

Dr. Rode teaches courses on Issues in Sport at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Introduction to Sport Management, and Sport Governance at the graduate level. She has recently piloted a Vincentian Social Justice course: Sport Equity, and plans to continue teaching that in future semesters.

Current Involvement

Dr. Rode serves on the following committees at Niagara University:

• Academic Senate
• Executive Committee for Academic Senate
• Committee on Committees
• Policy & Procedures Review Committee
• Women’s Studies Committee
• Take Back the Night Planning Committee
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Dr. Rode is the club advisor for the Sport Management Association and the Sport & Entertainment Club

Educational Background

• B.S., Horticulture, Texas A&M University
• B.S., Agriculture Science, Teacher Certification, Texas A&M University
• M.S., Kinesiology, emphasis in Sport Management, Texas A&M University
• Ph.D., Sport Studies, concentration Sport Management, University of Tennessee