Faculty/Staff Detail
Tara Mahoney
Tara Q. Mahoney is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at SUNY Cortland. She earned her PhD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development with a concentration in Sport Administration at the University of Louisville. She also earned a MBA from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a BA from Nazareth College of Rochester, where she played volleyball.
At SUNY Cortland, Dr. Mahoney teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Research Methods, International Sport Enterprise, and Strategic Management of Sport Organizations. Prior to pursuing a career in academia, Dr. Mahoney worked in municipal recreation, coordinating youth and adult sport programs and special events for the Town of Sullivan. She also has experience in campus and outdoor recreation. Additionally, she has worked as a research consultant for the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Speedway, and Churchill Downs.
In terms of research, Dr. Mahoney established two primary lines of research: (a) social media usage in the sport industry and (b) participation sport. She has manuscripts published in the International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, Nonprofit Volunteer Sector Quarterly and Case Studies in Sport Management, and frequently presents at international conferences such as the conference for the International Association of Communication in Sport, Sport Marketing Association, and North American Society of Sport Management.
In addition, Dr. Mahoney is the honors liaison and international advocate for the Sport Management Department.
Education
Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development with a concentration in Sport Administration in 2013.
MBA from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2007.
B.A. from Nazareth College of Rochester in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management in 2005,
Teaching
Undergraduate Courses
SPM 329 Seminar in Sport Marketing
SPM 466 Strategic Management of Sport Organizations
SPM 470/475 Internship in Sport Management
SPM 499 Independent Study - Student Research
Graduate Courses
SPM 610 Sport Enterprise
SPM 640 International Sport Enterprise
SPM 650 Research Methods
SPM 680 Policy and Strategic Management in Sport Organizations
Publications
Refereed Publications
Svensson, P. G., Mahoney, T. Q., Hambrick, M. E. (accepted for publication). Twitter as a communication tool for nonprofits: A study of sport-for-development organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
Mahoney, T. Q., Hambrick, M. E., Svensson, P. G., Zimmerman, M. (2013). Examining emergent niche sports YouTube exposure through the lens of the Psychological Continuum Model. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 13, 218-238.
Hambrick, M. E., Simmons, J. M., & Mahoney, T. Q. (2013). A mixed methods inquiry of female Ironman participants and their attitudes towards leisure-work-family conflict. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 13, 173-199.
Hambrick, M. E., Mahoney, T. Q., & Calabrese, R. (2012). Clicking for a cause: Using social media campaigns to drive awareness for charitable organizations and professional golf tournaments. Case Studies in Sport Management, 1.
Hambrick, M. E., & Mahoney, T. Q. (2011). 'It's incredible - trust me': Exploring the role of celebrity athletes as marketers in online social networks. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 10, 161-179.
Book Chapters
Mahoney, T. Q. (2014). Recreational Sport. In Principles and practice of sport management (5th ed.). L. P. Masteralexis, C. A. Barr, M. Hums (Eds.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Mahoney, T. Q. (accepted for publication). Research Methods in Sport. In Sport marketing and beyond. G. Bernstein (Ed.). Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.
Service
Department
Personnel Committee 2013 – 2016
Graduate Program Advisory Committee 2013 – 2016
Department Advisory Board Committee 2013 – Present
Search Committee (multiple positions) 2013, 2014, 2015
COSMA (Accreditation) Committee 2014 – 2015
Curriculum Committee 2013 – 2015 (Chair 2014 – 2015)
Online Protocol Committee (Chair) 2013
School
Curriculum Committee (2015 – 2016)
College
Clark Center International Advocate 2014 – Present
Quality Circle Reviewer 2014
Honors Liaison for the Sport Management Department 2013 – Present
Community
Empire State Marathon – Executive Board Member 2013 – Present
Central New York Triathlon Club – Research Consultant 2013 – Present
National
International Association for Communication and Sport 2012 – Present Conference Abstract Reviewer 2013 – 2014
North American Society for Sport Management 2010 – Present
Sport, Recreation, and Law Association 2010 – 2013
Student Initiatives Committee 2011 – 2013
Board of Directors, Student Representative 2011 – 2012
University of Louisville – Spring Research Conference
Chair, Conference Site Committee 2011 – 2012
Conference Abstract Reviewer 2011 – 2012
New York State Recreation and Parks Society 2007 – 2010
Central New York Recreation and Parks Society 2007 – 2010
President-Elect 2009 – 2010
Secretary 2008 – 2009
Grants
Mahoney, T. Q. (2014, March). Teaching Innovations Grant. Advanced Social Media Strategy Certificate. Not funded by the Faculty Development Center at SUNY Cortland in the amount of $500.
Mahoney, T. Q. (2014, January). Faculty Research Program. Exploring the influence of e-communities on participation and retention in triathlons. Funded by the Research and Sponsored Programs Office at SUNY Cortland in the amount of $2,783.
Mahoney, T. Q. (2013, September). Small Grants Award. Data collection for charity sport event management case study. Funded by the Faculty Development Center at SUNY Cortland in the amount of $250.
Mahoney, T. Q. Subcontracted research assistant for Meade Activity Center research and evaluation. Funded by the Department of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Louisville, through the Social Innovation Fund in the amount of $7,700.