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BATON ROUGE, LA — Per Svensson, PhD, an Associate Professor in Sport Management in the º£½ÇÉçÇø School of Kinesiology, was inducted as a member of the inaugural cohort of the prestigious ’s (SMAANZ) at the 30th annual conference, held in Geelong, Australia, for his sustained record of scholarly publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. He was one of only two researchers in the world to earn the award prior to their promotion to Full Professor. 

The Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) was established in 1995 to encourage scholarly inquiry into sport management related research and to provide the opportunity to present results from this research. The association organizes an annual and operates , the highest-ranked peer-reviewed journal in the field of sport management. In 2024, the decision was made to develop a new, senior-level research fellowship.

"The SMAANZ fellowships were created to serve two purposes. First, they acknowledge sustained and high-quality academic contributions to Sport Management in this region. The criteria were intentionally set high, requiring both excellence in research work and a high level of service to the sport management community in this region. Second, the fellowships act to give formal status to a group of academics who will mentor and advise our community in future. Our inaugural group of SMAANZ Fellows are an extraordinary group of scholars who have had profound impact on both the thinking in this field and the sport management academic community in this region."

- Heath McDonald, PhD
SMAANZ President and Dean of the School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing at RMIT University

"The SMAANZ Research Fellowship celebrates SMAANZ community members by recognizing their sustained track record of quality research publications, active participation and membership with SMAANZ, and contribution to the SMAANZ community. Per most definitely embodies each of these characteristics. Per has brought his insights and perspective to a collection of SMAANZ panels and seminars over the years, alongside a consistent and much appreciated willingness to serve the community through reviews and mentoring, among other contributions. This is on top of his outstanding research track record. Per is a valued member of SMAANZ, well known for his kindness as well his impeccably delivered presentations. It was an absolute pleasure to see him receive a SMAANZ Fellowship as part of our inaugural class." 

- Kevin Filo, PhD
SMAANZ Vice President and Professor in the School of Business at Griffith University

Svensson's research is primarily focused on organizations intentionally operating sport-based programs aimed at addressing critical social issues related to health, education, employability and peace-building, among other areas. Specifically, his work examines how these organizations can better mobilize and sustain the resources necessary for serving their mission within resource-constrained environments. He recently co-edited a book entitled Social Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship, and Sport for Development and Peace. Svensson is the former editor of the Journal of Sport for Development and currently serves on the editorial board of the two leading peer-reviewed journals in his discipline: Sport Management Review and the Journal of Sport Management. He also actively works with industry organizations and policymakers. Svensson has previously been invited to share his expertise with members of the United Nations and has chaired committees organized by industry organizations including Common Goal and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. 

In reflecting on the inaugural cohort of SMAANZ Research Fellow Award winners, McDonald expressed his appreciation for Svensson’s scholarship and active engagement in advancing the field of sport management in the Oceania region.

"Professor Svensson is an excellent example of what we hope the SMAANZ fellows will be. He is an exceptional scholar, having made a number of important contributions to research and practice around the role of sport in development and sport’s impact on society more broadly. In addition, he has been an active supporter of our association, from working with our journal through to mentoring and supporting young academics in this region. Although based in the United States, his frequent attendance at our annual conference and generosity when working with others has helped to build an international network for many sport management academics here."

- Heath McDonald, PhD
SMAANZ President and Dean of the School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing at RMIT University

Svensson is deeply committed to solving real-life issues through his research. As an example, one of his current projects includes the development of a business accelerator for social entrepreneurs within the field of sport for good. The motivation for this initiative stems from recognizing there is a need for better solutions for complex social problems. Research suggests sport provides a powerful way to better engage youth in social change-focused educational programs, yet organizations utilizing sport for social change are often under-resourced and face skepticism about their innovative approaches to tackle social issues. Svensson was driven to develop a practical solution to help contribute to more impactful and place-based solutions for organizations using sport for good. As a result, he’s working with a global set of industry partners, policymakers and leading scholars across multiple disciplines to develop a platform for current and aspiring social entrepreneurs interested in utilizing sport as an innovative means for achieving development and peace-building outcomes.

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About the º£½ÇÉçÇø School of Kinesiology
The º£½ÇÉçÇø School of Kinesiology (SOK) advances the understanding of physical activity, sport, and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement. SOK offers a BS, MS, Online MS, PhD, and two certificate options. Graduates go on to successful careers in the health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, sport agencies and businesses, athletic administration, and K-12 educational settings. SOK is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.

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About the College of Human Sciences & Education 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of º£½ÇÉçÇø. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

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