Laurajean Holmgren

Laurajean (Lj) Holmgren is the Deputy Academic Director for the Master of Science in Sports Management program.  In this role, she shares responsibility for the strategic direction, operational management, and curriculum development. Her duties include overseeing the comprehensive curriculum, with a particular emphasis on its ongoing revision and enhancement. She is instrumental in ensuring academic excellence and a relevant, forward-thinking educational experience for students. Holmgren is also a part-time lecturer teaching courses such as Sports Marketing, Foundations of Sports Management, Supervised Research Project, Internship, and Independent Study. 

Holmgren's academic leadership extends to her service on the Program Curriculum Committee and the Data Governance Committee. 

Prior to her role at Columbia, she was a Senior Account Executive at NCG Visuals, where she led large-format graphic installations for sports venues for notable clients including the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, collegiate and high school athletic programs, the NFL, the New York Jets, and the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee.

As Assistant Athletics Director and Director of Facilities and Operations at St. John's University, Holmgren oversaw the day-to-day operations of athletic facilities, planned and executed athletic events, and developed capital plans to address infrastructure improvements for athletic facilities. She also managed venue and facility renovations 

Holmgren was recognized in 2012 by NCG Visuals and the New York Liberty as part of their “Inspiring Women” home game. Additionally, the Big East Conference acknowledged her contributions to the athletics department on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Holmgren held an operations internship with Harvard University Athletics and an athletic administration internship at Boston College.

She currently serves on the board for Athletes Soul, a non-profit organization founded and run by former athletes. Its mission is to support athletes as they transition away from sports, raise awareness about the challenges of athletic retirement, and empower athletes to develop beyond sports by providing educational resources, transition and career coaching, and networking opportunities.

Furthermore, she is a research affiliate for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴), contributing to critical research in the field. She also consulted with Olympians and Paralympians, providing strategic guidance on building and leveraging their personal brands.

At St. John’s University, she taught "Current Issues in Sports" to Sports Management undergraduate students during the fall 2014 and 2015 terms.