Have you met … Dan Mason?

What is your role in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation?

I am a professor of sport management. I teach and do research.

What does it mean to you to work for your alma mater?

I completed my PhD here, and I really enjoy the campus and the community at the U of A. I feel fortunate to have been able to experience it both as a student and as a faculty member.

What is the focus of your research?

My research is a bit eclectic, covering a number of topics and theoretical frameworks. It takes an interdisciplinary approach and focuses on the business of sport and the relationships between its stakeholders, including all levels of government, sports teams and leagues, the communities that host teams, agents and players’ associations.

What inspires this work? 

I have always been interested in professional sport, and by extension the communities that they play in and the relationships between the two. 

What have been some highlights of your work outside academia?

I have had the opportunity to serve as a consultant on some facility development projects that have allowed me to have an impact on the area that I study.

What do you love most about teaching and mentoring?

I give students a lot of space to develop their own research areas. Seeing them come into their own with their research is very rewarding for me. 

What’s your advice for early-career academics or students who want a career like yours?

Be sure to study things that you have a strong interest in or passion for, as this will allow you to sustain your research program over time.

What’s something your colleagues and students might be surprised to learn about you?

I have a lot of quirks. I like to paint (although I haven’t done much recently), I love old funk music, and I had a very brief movie career when I was younger.