The foundation for Liza-Handly Hughes’ storytelling ability was cemented at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Now, the recent alumna puts those skills to use as a sports content researcher for ESPN.
Hughes graduated in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Southern studies and a minor in sports administration. Although the Knoxville native had a little hesitation about leaving Tennessee to enroll at Ole Miss, the opportunity to be a part of the Academic Common Market made the decision easier.
The ACM is a cooperative agreement among participating Southern Regional Education Board states that allows residents to pursue degree programs not offered in their home state without paying out-of-state tuition.
“Through the Academic Common Market, I was able to get a strong, well-rounded education, be immersed in an SEC sports environment and learn in smaller classes where I could truly know my professors, all with in-state tuition,” Hughes said.
Some of her favorite classes were Andy Harper’s S St 540: Photographing Place in the U.S. South, Simone Delerme’s S St 402: Southern Studies Seminar, and Annemarie Anderson’s S St 401: Oral History Root to Stem.
“What set these classes apart was the freedom to lean into our own interests and explore them through the lens of the course material,” Hughes said.
In the photography class, she used sports as her lens to tell a story of progression, and in the oral history course, she carried that same approach into research and storytelling.
She said she is grateful to her professors for creating environments that encouraged exploration.
“Being able to learn class material through something I was passionate about made a noticeable difference in how I engaged with and understood the content,” Hughes said. “Those courses truly shaped my Southern studies experience by allowing students to dive into the material and be genuinely excited about their work.”
When talking to colleagues in Connecticut, she does not hesitate to explain the interdisciplinary nature of her undergraduate degree.
“When describing the Southern studies program to someone who has never heard of it, I start with the idea that you can truly make it your own,” Hughes said. “I knew sports were the path I wanted to pursue, and the program gave me the flexibility to approach course material through that lens.”
She also highlights the small, discussion-based classroom experiences.
“Sitting at a table with a professor who knew my name and paid attention to my participation pushed me to engage more actively, communicate clearly and take ownership of my learning,” she said.
It is gratifying to see students critically engage with their own passions in a classroom setting, said Annemarie Anderson, assistant professor of practice and lead oral historian for the Southern Foodways Alliance.
“Liza-Handly researched with her interests in sports with creativity and gusto,” Anderson said. “Her final project combined oral history narratives with archival research with great success.”
That level of accountability also carried over as she managed her time at Ole Miss as women’s basketball manager under coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, known as “Coach Yo,” and later as Associated Student Body principal of athletics, where she gained a comprehensive understanding of how sports environments operate.
“I was fortunate to be around people and leadership within the program who trusted me, challenged me and invested in my development,” Hughes said. “Being surrounded by individuals who held a high standard while also creating a strong sense of culture and belief pushed me to grow both personally and professionally, and that environment had a lasting impact on how I approach my work.”
Balancing time in athletics and at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture required her to be organized and adaptable.
“That experience not only built my work ethic, but also strengthened my ability to operate in fast-paced, high-demand settings,” she said.
Her background made it easier to land her job at ESPN, where she supports shows with information that shape the on-air content. That includes finding relevant stats, trends, historical context and storylines that producers and talent can use to improve a story. Most of her work is tied to live event coverage for sports including football, basketball and gymnastics or programs such as “SportsCenter.”
Overall, her role combines research, storytelling and production awareness.
“Supporting live broadcasts requires constant communication and the ability to adjust in real time, which has been one of the most fun and nerve-wracking parts of the role,” Hughes said. “It also goes beyond just pulling information; it is about helping bring ideas to life.
“Whether it is building out a visual, structuring how a roster, matchup or historical note should be presented, or collaborating with producers and designers, I get to take something from an initial idea and see it turn into something that is used on air.”
Despite days that include early mornings, night shifts, holidays, creating multiple versions of notes and graphics, preparing for every possible playoff tiebreaker scenario and double- and triple-checking every detail, she enjoys making an impact by providing useful and clear information for a national audience.
“Each day, I know my work contributes to someone else’s love of sports, and that makes every second worth it,” Hughes said.