Gabi Morris ‘25 took a leap of faith, moving from Los Angeles to Hartford to pursue sports management at the Barney School of Business. She chose this major because of her passion for sports and the unique blend of business, law, and entertainment it offers. Having received her degree this month, Gabi plans to pursue a legal career in the field, specifically as a sports agent, to advocate for athletes' careers, promote equality, and drive environmental reform.
Outside of academics, Gabi became extremely involved on campus as a member of LEAD and revitalizing the Sports Business Association after the club was inactive for years. As president, she coordinated guest speaker events, including one with Kathy Behrens ‘85, president of social responsibility and player programs for the National Basketball Association. Gabi says the numerous opportunities UHart provides, like alumni and networking functions, have been beneficial as they connect students with successful professionals across various fields.
Barney faculty helped Gabi secure an internship in the local area—which was a great help since she is a California native. The intimidating move across the country helped Gabi learn and grow as a person and has led to her feeling more “confident and capable—ready to face the world and future.” She ended up interning at Special Olympics Connecticut, where she worked directly with athletes and helped organize events that highlighted the spirit and goodwill of everyone involved.
“The internship taught me the realities of working in the sports industry, particularly from a nonprofit perspective,” Gabi explains. “It showed me the demanding nature of event planning and reinforced that many sports jobs, though labeled as ‘9 to 5,’ often extend well beyond office hours and include things like going to fields, scouting out venues, and setting up equipment for events.”
In addition to the internship connection, faculty helped Gabi clarify her career path by introducing her to the paralegal program. This shift in direction led her to the ABA-approved paralegal certificate program, which provided hands-on legal experience. “I gained skills in drafting legal documents, writing depositions, and navigating the civil litigation filing processes,” Gabi says. Additionally, she says the Barney BAR courses helped her strengthen her LinkedIn profile and expand her professional network.
Gabi credits faculty members Celia Lofink, John Papa, and Regina Graziani as being instrumental in her academic journey, saying their mentorship has had a lasting impact. Since recently graduating, she is applying to paralegal roles at local law firms to gain practical experience, with the goal of continuing her education at law school in the future.
Outside of her educational pursuits, Gabi travels to places like New Hampshire, where she enjoys being in nature, hiking, and dog walking.
Gabi Morris ‘25, Barney School of BusinessThe internship taught me the realities of working in the sports industry, particularly from a nonprofit perspective. It showed me the demanding nature of event planning and reinforced that many sports jobs, though labeled as ‘9 to 5,’ often extend well beyond office hours and include things like going to fields, scouting out venues, and setting up equipment for events.