College of Information and Communications

Sports Media Faculty

As a sports media major, you will take classes with many School of Journalism and Mass Communications faculty. But here are a few of the extraordinary faculty in your area of study. Visit the links to learn more about each of them.

Kimberly Elchlepp

Kimberly Elchlepp brings more than a decade of public relations industry experience to the classroom, creating a collaborative, inclusive and creative environment that prepares students for careers in public relations and the sports industry. Her experience at ESPN had her working in the communications department on some of the major properties aired on that network. In addition, she is a graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, so being able to teach back at her school is especially meaningful.

Tamera Green

Tamera Green served as chief communications officer for Tepper Sports and Entertainment overseeing communications strategy, crisis and issues management, public and media relations for all TSE properties, including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Football Club and Bank of America Stadium. Green also held leadership roles with sports marketing agencies creating sports and entertainment programs for corporations including Coca-Cola, Gillette, VISA, and HBO. She has been recognized by Sports Business Journal, the City of Charlotte and other organizations for her work in sports. She is part of the team creating a Sports Media Institute in Charlotte and is teaching in the graduate program.

Kelly Evans Grieshaber, Ph.D.

Kelly Evans Grieshaber is an experienced sport media professional and educator who brings a dynamic, industry-informed approach to the classroom. A triple alumna of the University of South Carolina, she has held various leadership positions in industries such as professional baseball, concerts and events, broadcast media, marketing, social media, and higher education. Her teaching focuses on sport media strategy, branding, public relations, and storytelling, with an emphasis on real-world application and student engagement.

Kevin Hull, Ph.D.

Kevin Hull is a former television sports broadcaster who has reported live from the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Finals and various other big (and small) sporting events. He is currently the lead instructor for the sports media programs within the college, teaching Sports, Media, and Society and SEC Football and the Sports Media. Hull has won numerous awards for both his broadcasting and teaching, and is the author of two sports media textbooks.

Renée Ittner-McManus

Renée Ittner-McManus is a visual storyteller who covered a variety of assignments as a photojournalist for California dailies, the Associated Press and The State newspaper. Ittner-McManus is passionate about sharing her love of photojournalism with emerging visual journalists. She believes in "getting cameras in hands" and can often be seen around campus as she coaches students in the basics of photography and videography. Her "Carolina Cup" course, offered each spring, gives students first-hand experience in documenting a major sporting event produced for publication.

Scott Parrott, Ph.D.

Scott Parrott worked as a reporter and editor in North Carolina and Alabama. His writing about outdoor sports won several awards, including first place honors for "sports columns" from the North Carolina Press Association. He is the co-author of the book "Head Game," in which he interviewed elite athletes such as Michael Phelps and Gracie Gold about mental health and sport. He teaches a course in which students earn hands-on experience with professional baseball teams, providing social media, public relations, beat reporting, and other communications work for teams such as the Chicago White Sox. He is an affiliate scholar with the Beyond Sports Initiative at the University of Alabama and a member of the International Association of Communication and Sport.

Manie Robinson

Manie Robinson is a seasoned storyteller, filmmaker and educator. He served as a sports reporter, columnist and video producer for The Greenville News and the USA Today Network. He was named the South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association in 2018 and 2019. He has won more than a dozen press association awards for video production, breaking news, enterprise reporting and opinion writing.

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