Three University of Mississippi business students spent their summers learning the business of marketing sports and professional football through internships with the country’s largest sports channel and two National Football League teams.
Elizabeth “Elly” Kaplanis, a junior general business major from Granby, Colorado, interned with the Kansas City Chiefs; Eve Quisenberry, a senior marketing major from Tampa, Florida, worked with the Atlanta Falcons; and Sam Toune, a senior general business major from Dewitt, Michigan, spent his summer with ESPN.
“Internships are consistently ranked among the most valuable experiences employers consider when hiring candidates, and they are especially important in competitive fields such as sports marketing,” said Wesley Dickens, director of career services for the School of Business Administration. “In such a close-knit industry, students not only gain meaningful, hands-on experience but also build professional relationships that can open doors to future opportunities.”
Kaplanis followed in the footsteps of her sister, Mia Kaplanis, an Ole Miss alumna who interned with the Chiefs in 2025. During her internship, Elly Kaplanis worked across many parts of training camp, including fan engagement, event operations, VIP areas, the Kids Zone and ADA transportation services, learning what it takes to create a great experience for thousands of fans.
“My biggest and most positive takeaway was the relationships I built throughout the internship” she said.” I was able to meet and learn from so many people in the sports industry while also forming friendships with other interns that I know will last beyond this experience.
“Being surrounded by people who are passionate about sports showed me how important networking, teamwork and building genuine relationships are in this industry. This experience not only gave me valuable professional experience, but also made me even more excited to pursue a career in sports.”
For Kaplanis, the best experience of the summer involved the relationships she built with coworkers, mentors and fellow interns. The sense of connection reinforced how important networking and teamwork are in the sports industry.
Toune got involved with Total Production Services, the company that produces Ole Miss sports broadcasts, during his freshman year. That experience introduced him to ESPN’s internship program.
After years of work, he earned a spot as a content operations intern at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. His work included helping produce shows such as “SportsCenter” and “NFL Live,” supporting live sports broadcasts and learning the business side of sports productions.
“Having the opportunity to work at a company like ESPN for 10 weeks is a pretty special experience,” he said. “I was surrounded by some of the best professionals in sports broadcasting and business.
“I was able to be a part of some amazing projects, and I learned things that I will take with me for the rest of my career.”
Quisenberry, who is pursuing a minor in sports administration, interned with the marketing and fan experience department of the Ole Miss Department of Athletics, which gave her real-world experience in sports marketing.
She found her internship with the Falcons through a website listing sports jobs and internships. Quisenberry applied for the live events training camp intern position because it matched her interest in marketing and fan experience.
“I was also given the opportunity to work their preseason game held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the Denver Broncos, where I assisted with organizing the community groups who came onto the field during the national anthem and at halftime,” she said.
During her internship, Quisenberry helped set up training camp practices and fan events, which included organizing food vendors, face painters and sponsor activities.
“My biggest and most positive takeaway from my experience with the Atlanta Falcons was learning how much preparation and collaboration across departments goes into creating a successful fan experience,” she said. “I gained valuable hands-on experience and definitely proved my interest in pursuing a career in sports marketing.”
Looking ahead, Quisenberry is interning with CaptainU Recruiting, where she works on social media for their sales and marketing team. After she graduates in the spring, she hopes to start a career in the marketing department of an NFL or NHL team.
The business school is hosting an internship showcase from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10) in the Paul B. Johnson Commons ballroom. Students can learn from their peers about their internship experiences, the application process and the range of opportunities available.
“We encourage students to start their internship search early and take advantage of the resources available to them,” said Bailey Bracken, the school’s associate director of experiential education and partnerships. “Our office helps students with everything from resume reviews and interview preparation to identifying platforms where they can find opportunities.”
