Ben Reid Blazes Trail with Sport Leadership MA
Ben Reid made history in May 2025 as the very first graduate of the MA in Sport and Recreation Leadership at the University of Arizona. In addition to earning this innovative master’s degree, Ben also completed two complementary graduate certificates—Sport and Recreation Management and Inclusive Leadership in Sport and Recreation—demonstrating his commitment to inclusive, forward-thinking leadership in the field.
A 2024 graduate with a B.S. in Urban and Regional Development, Ben has spent the last several years deeply involved in Campus Recreation at UArizona, most recently serving as Facilities Reservations Student Coordinator. His passion and experience have paid off: this August, Ben is heading to New York to begin his new role as Facilities and Events Coordinator at Binghamton University’s Campus Recreation department.
He’s especially excited to join the team during a pivotal time, as the facility embarks on a major expansion. "It's an incredible opportunity to grow alongside a program that’s investing in the future," Ben shares.
From Tucson to Binghamton, Ben’s journey reflects the power of purpose-driven leadership in sport and recreation—and sets a powerful precedent for future graduates.
To learn more about Ben’s journey, his new role, and his advice for aspiring professionals, we asked him to reflect on his experience in the program and what lies ahead.
What drew you to the Sport and Recreation Leadership graduate program, and how has it helped prepare you for your new role?
I was drawn to this program because of my great advisors and former professors, Dr. Ostermeyer and Dr. Stipek, in addition to my previous experience with the undergraduate TLS program at the University of Arizona. I fell in love with the field of sport and recreation ever since I started working in Campus Recreation starting Spring of 2022, and I knew that long-term I wanted a career in this space. When I heard about this new SRL program being created, I just knew that it was the right fit for me. What I think this program does best, above all else, is that it connects the course material with real life examples and case studies. It truly helps students to see how what they are learning is practical in a real-world environment. Throughout this program I learned many different practices and theories, that I will be able to apply in my future career from finance topics to making sure that inclusivity and accessibility are included in every recreation service and department that I am part of.
Tell us a little bit about your new position and what you're most excited about as you start this next chapter.
In my new role at Binghamton University, I will be overseeing all the reservations and special events for their Campus Recreation department. I specifically like working in reservations because of the groups and connections that you make through a role like that. Every time a group comes into the facility, it creates not only exposure for the department but introduces many to fitness, recreation, and by extension higher education in general. My first time being on a college campus was attending a youth summer camp at the University of Arizona Campus Recreation. Being able to have a hand in creating these opportunities for others is something that I find very rewarding.
What advice would you give to current or potential students or recent graduates who are interested in a career in Campus Recreation?
Many people probably do not even think of Campus Recreation as a field that they can go into- I know that I most certainly did not until I started working in it as a summer job. As for advice, regarding Campus Recreation, don’t limit yourself. Campus Recreation is a diverse field that has many different aspects (facility operations, membership sales, reservations, intramural sports, fitness classes, outdoor programs, etc.). If any one of these is something that you like to do or are interested in doing, then there is a spot for you in the field of Campus Recreation. Above all, you need to be passionate about developing students into leaders. Student development is a core value of the campus recreation field anywhere you go, so being a passionate and driven leader is extremely important.