Aaron

Mansfield

Academic Title

Assistant Professor, Sport Management

Research Interests
  • Sports Fandom
  • Physical Health
  • Sports Marketing
  • Sports Consumer Behavior

 

Research Summary

My research centers on the relationship between sports fandom and physical health. In other words, I research how your loyal Patriots fandom will impact your lifespan and healthspan.

Education
  • Ph.D., Management, UMass Amherst
  • M.S., Sport Management, UMass Amherst
  • B.A., English & Journalism, University of Buffalo
Areas of Expertise
  • Sport Fandom
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
Recent Publications
  • Mansfield, A. C., Melton, N. M., & Katz, M. (2022). An Analysis of Identity Conflict for Health-Conscious Sport Fans. Journal of Sport Management.
  • Mansfield, A. C., Katz, M., & Delia, E. B. (2021). The Identity Work of Health-Conscious Sport Fans. Journal of Sport Management.
  • Delia, E.B., Sveinson, K., Mansfield, A. C., & Calow, E. (2022). Understanding the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Fan Identity. Sport Management Review.
  • Mansfield, A. C. (2020). ‘Count the Ways That It Impacts Your Life’: New Parenthood and Sport Fandom. Journal of Sport Management.
  • Mansfield, A. C., Delia, E. B., & Katz, M. (2019). The blurry spectrums of team identity threat. Sport Management Review.
  • Katz, M., Mansfield, A. C., & Tyler, B. D. (2019). The Strength of Fan Ties: Emotional Support in Sport Fan Egocentric Networks. Journal of Sport Management
Honors and Awards
  • Strategic Academic Research Trajectory Package (START) Recipient — Merrimack College (2022)
  • Outstanding Doctoral Student Researcher – Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst, 2020
  • Student Research Competition Finalist – North American Society for Sport Management, 2019
  • Isenberg School of Management Fellowship Award – Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst, 2017
  • National College Media Leader of the Year – College Media Association, 2014
Teaching

I teach courses in sport management and marketing, focusing on real-world applications that will help my students construct meaningful careers.

Professional Experience

I have worked in sports media as an editor (ESPN), reporter (The Buffalo News), freelance writer (New York Times, USA Today), and TV producer (WGRZ-TV). I stay involved in this world as a contributing writer for Complex. I also served as an account manager at SMT (SportsMEDIA Technologies), where I worked on the broadcast production of sporting events including the Stanley Cup Finals and NCAA Tournament. Finally, I began my career in coaching basketball, serving as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Amherst College and as a high school head coach in my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.