{"id":5436,"date":"2026-02-26T12:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T17:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/krss\/?page_id=5436"},"modified":"2026-02-26T12:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T17:04:11","slug":"dr-michael-diacin-honored-as-2024-sport-studies-doctoral-alumni-scholar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/krss\/dr-michael-diacin-honored-as-2024-sport-studies-doctoral-alumni-scholar\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Michael Diacin Honored as 2024 Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies at the University of Tennessee honored Dr. Michael\u00a0Diacin<\/span>\u00a0as its Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar for 2024. Dr.\u00a0Diacin<\/span>, who earned his Ph.D. in exercise and sport sciences with a concentration in sport studies and specialization in sport sociology in 2009, is currently an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science at the University of Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

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As recipient of the alumni scholar honor, Dr.\u00a0Diacin<\/span>\u00a0returned to campus Oct. 1-3, 2024, to deliver a presentation in the doctoral seminar, provide guest lectures in courses, and meet with students and faculty.<\/p>\n

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Dr.\u00a0Diacin<\/span>, who teaches in the areas of sport finance, risk management, human resource management, and sport governance, is in his 15th year as a faculty member at the University of Indianapolis. His scholarship has focused on topics related to sport management pedagogy (experiential learning, directing student research) and sport volunteerism and has been published in the\u00a0Sport Management Education Journal, College Student Journal<\/i>, and\u00a0Palestra<\/i>. He has also served as an executive committee member of the\u00a0Applied Sport Management Association<\/a>\u00a0and has served as a member of the faculty senate as well as the sabbatical and grants committee at the University of Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar. My experience in the Sport Studies program was highlighted by the professional development and friendships that were gained. The University of Tennessee, Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, and the Sport Studies program provided me with a wonderful opportunity to prepare for a career in academics and I am thrilled with the opportunity to engage with students and colleagues as part of this recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While completing his Ph.D., Dr.\u00a0Diacin<\/span>\u00a0was advised by the late\u00a0Dr. Joy T. DeSensi<\/a>\u2014a former department head and associate dean of the UT Graduate School whose career spanned nearly 40 years at Tennessee.<\/p>\n

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Sport studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that encompasses such areas as sociology of sport, sport management, sport history, and sport philosophy. The sport studies doctoral degree concentration in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies (KRSS) prepares its graduates to conduct research and teach in a variety of subjects within the sport studies field. The Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar award allows the Department of KRSS to recognize a graduate of the sport studies doctoral program who has made substantial contributions to the field of sport studies.<\/p>\n

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Dr.\u00a0Diacin<\/span>\u00a0is the fourth recipient of the Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar honor.\u00a0Dr. Brody Ruihley<\/a>\u00a0was the inaugural honoree in 2017-18, while\u00a0Dr. Josh Pate<\/a>\u00a0was honored in 2018-19, followed by\u00a0Dr. Dawn Norwood<\/a>\u00a0in 2022-23.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies at the University of Tennessee honored Dr. Michael\u00a0Diacin\u00a0as its Sport Studies Doctoral […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5436","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDr. Michael Diacin Honored as 2024 Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar - Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/krss\/dr-michael-diacin-honored-as-2024-sport-studies-doctoral-alumni-scholar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dr. Michael Diacin Honored as 2024 Sport Studies Doctoral Alumni Scholar - 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