05/12/2026
"Growing up in Huntington, Marshall University was always home, but I never realized how much it would shape my future. I knew I wanted to work in sports, even if I didn’t yet know what that path looked like. What I found at Marshall was the foundation to build a meaningful career.
As an undergraduate intern in the football video department, I gained a behind‑the‑scenes understanding of what it takes to support a Division I program. That experience led to a graduate assistant position with the Big Green Scholarship Foundation while I pursued my Master of Science in Sport Administration. During that time, the program broadened my view of the sports industry and showed me the many ways you can make an impact through college athletics.
The hands‑on experience was invaluable, but the relationships are what stayed with me. The connections I built with classmates, professors, and colleagues continue to shape my journey, and many of us now serve in leadership roles across the industry.
Marshall didn’t just prepare me for a career; it prepared me to make an impact in the place I love most. My family is here, my heart is here, and I will always bleed green! Go Herd!"
- Taylor Hickman Kinker, Associate Athletic Director & Chief of Staff, Big Green Scholarship Foundation at Marshall University
Want to find your dream career in the business field of athletics like Taylor? Visit us at https://www.marshall.edu/cob/graduate/master-of-science-in-sport-administration/