Haley Rose decided to attend the University of Georgia before she ever set foot on campus.
She knew plenty about the university—her grandfather, Harold Black, was one of UGA’s first Black students to enroll and the first African American graduate from the Terry College of Business. But UGA’s sport management program finalized her decision.
Rose was ready to combine her love of sports with business knowledge gained from her parents. After a soccer injury led her away from active play and toward team management, she felt the draw of athletics administration and knew it was a great fit.
“I can definitely say I made the right decision coming to Athens,” said Rose, who will graduate with degrees in marketing and sport management on Dec. 15.
From her first moments on campus, Rose found community. Friends she made in her freshman residence hall (Brumby Hall, which is the same residence hall her mom lived in as a freshman) remain her friends four years later, and she even has the same roommate.
Over the last four years, she worked as a football recruiting specialist with the UGA Athletic Association, in addition to joining various Terry student groups. Rose also served as a Terry Diversity Fellow, vice president of marketing on the Terry Student Diversity Advocacy Council and on the Terry Women’s Initiative.
Rose served as TWI’s intended business chair, and this group introduced her to all Terry had to offer, from student resources to networking opportunities. She was also an inaugural Terry Diversity Fellow, a group funded by Ernest and Young LLP of junior and senior students who support underrepresented, intended business students by serving as mentors, promoting inclusivity within the college and introducing resources. Her mentee, Jenny Chen, is now a Terry Diversity Fellow, carrying the torch forward.
“It has all helped build my resume, but also being here has helped me get out of my comfort zone,” Rose said. “Now, when I meet new people, I’m more comfortable showing my personality, and I’ve honed my communication, presentation and interviewing skills.”
After graduation, Rose will apply these skills as special products coordinator on the Major League Baseball enterprise products team, located in New York City right across the street from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center, a continuation of her summer 2023 internship.
“At the MLB offices, my manager made it clear that it’s OK to start from scratch,” Rose said. “He encouraged me to ask questions, and all of the people on our team helped set up meetings in other departments so that I could learn more. That’s exactly the environment I want for my first professional position, so I’m excited to continue to grow there.”
Haley Rose with a painted portrait of her grandfather, Harold Black. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)
This time of year is also a time for reflection, Rose said. Throughout her time at UGA, Rose has been able to spend more time with her grandfather and said that despite the hostility and adversity Black sometimes faced as a student, he remains an ardent supporter of the university. During the years Black attended UGA, he saw change and progress occurring, and he remained connected with the Terry College of Business to continue that progress.
From his portrait hanging in Amos Hall to the university’s newest residence hall, Black-Diallo-Miller Hall, Rose is grateful to see the university recognize his important role in UGA history.
“He would never say a bad word about his experience at Georgia, and it has been so poetic to see him get the recognition he deserves,” Rose said. “I’m also just excited I get to make him proud. I appreciate and acknowledge that a lot of my opportunities opened up because of him, but I also do my best to prove myself in these opportunities.”
At Commencement, Rose will have another opportunity to celebrate her family legacy: Harold Black will provide the fall Commencement address.
“Everything is so full circle,” Rose said. “I know graduation is going to be very bittersweet, but it’s so special to have my grandfather there. I’m happy that I could make my family proud and just see what the future holds.”