Meet Us

Meet the MS-SAL Faculty & Staff

The Master of Science in Sport Administration and Leadership faculty is comprised of experienced professionals who translate their hands-on experience to create a learning community centered on relevance and current trends in the sport industry.

Meet Our Faculty

Andi Perelman

Andi Perelman gained her experience with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, where she led their marketing efforts to new heights for over a decade. Andi was promoted five times during her 10-year tenure with the team and was among the first female executives for the Penguins.

With a Master’s degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, Andi began her journey with the Penguins as a New Media Coordinator, before rising to manage a dynamic marketing team. Andi and her team oversaw the team’s social media accounts (paid and organic), digital advertising, website, text service, emails, team app, giveaway items, digital reporting, and integration of sponsors on digital channels.

During her time with Penguins, Andi spearheaded initiatives that propelled the team’s social media channels to become the league leader in total engagements, despite Pittsburgh’s position as a smaller market team within the NHL. Andi’s notable contributions earned her widespread recognition, including winning an Emmy Award, being recognized as a Rising Star by the National Business Journals, receiving 30-under-30 honors from the Pittsburgh Business Times, and being named a Webby honoree on multiple occasions. Outside of her professional endeavors, Andi is on the Alumni Council for BBYO where she serves on the Digital Strategy and Platform committee and volunteers for Strong Women, Strong Girls.

Luke Mashburn

Luke Mashburn has extensive experience in event and facility operations in the sports industry. He has worked for four Division I athletic departments, a professional soccer team, and three professional sports leagues. Over the course of his career, he has opened three new buildings as the event or facility manager, managed over 25 athletic venues and buildings, and supervised hundreds of events. Luke has worked numerous NCAA postseason events, Concacaf Gold Cups, and the World Series. Academically, he will complete a PhD from Troy University in 2022 and has written several publications, including the Sport Management Encyclopedia entries for both event management and facility management.

Mr. Mashburn teaches the Facilities and Events Management course.

Dr. Yuliana Vilenchik

Dr. Yuliana Vilenchik is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in professional and collegiate sports. She received her Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) degree from St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida, with a specialization in Sports Administration. With years of experience teaching at the university level, Dr. Vilenchik has taught a variety of traditional and remote sports management courses in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Her research and professional interests include governance of intercollegiate athletics, sports leadership, legal and ethical issues in sport, sports marketing, and event management.

Holding servant leadership principles close to her heart, Dr. Vilenchik strives to lead by example and encourages students to engage in open-minded discussions of course materials, trending industry events, and organized group collaborations and projects to promote teamwork and foster multicultural awareness. At Midland University, Dr. Vilenchik teaches SAL 601 Legal Aspects of Sports Management, a course that provides an in-depth overview and analysis of legal principles and issues in sports management. The following course is designed to enrich students with a comprehensive knowledge of the United States legal system and provide unique insight into relevant sports management laws and ethical issues. The course also discusses important topics such as tort law and product liability, risk management, agency law, contract law, employment law, constitutional law, gender equity, intellectual property, antitrust law, and labor law.

DaWon Baker

DaWon Baker serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the University of Colorado Boulder. He started with the Buffs in May 2021 and oversees the Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan for athletics, while serving as a resource for student-athletes, coaches and staff for CU Athletics on all things diversity, equity and inclusion.

Prior to his arrival to Colorado Boulder, Baker served as the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. At Nebraska, he was responsible for diversity and inclusion initiatives for all staff, coaches and student-athletes. He also served as a Life Skills coach for three varsity programs (football, rifle and men’s gymnastics), where he worked with almost 200 athletes on leadership, career and personal development. Baker also has experience with the NCAA’s Leadership Development department where he helped student-athletes, coaches, and administrators build their skills.

In August 2019, Baker co-founded the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Council of Excellence (DIECE), a membership organization that provides support and resources for diversity officers who work in athletics. Baker is a graduate of the University of Missouri and earned his graduate degree from the University of Central Florida. In his free time, Baker enjoys playing pickup basketball and flag football, listening to podcasts, and advocating for social change.