Rising Stars Spotlights: Emma Cooper & Jordon Smith
Emma Cooper
Emma Cooper recently graduated with a Master's degree in Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Iowa. In August 2024, she will join the Allstate Sugar Bowl staff in New Orleans, contributing to the operations of the 2024-2025 college football season.
Over the past five years, Emma has garnered extensive experience working with Coach Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Football program, where she excelled in football operations, administration, alumni engagement, recruiting, and strength & conditioning. Her expertise also spans collegiate and professional track & field operations and event management.
In addition to her work with Iowa Football, Emma assists Bowlsby Sports Advisors, a full-service sports consulting firm, with research and operations. She supports administration and coaching executive searches, providing valuable organizational solutions to sports entities. At Bowlsby Sports Advisors, she helps cultivate internal talent, recruit top-tier leaders, and implement business strategies for professional and intercollegiate sports organizations.
Emma's experience also includes her role as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Iowa, where she oversees discussion sections, creates supplemental content, evaluates student assignments, and mentors undergraduate students entering the sports industry.
Emma Cooper's journey reflects her dedication to excellence in sports management and her commitment to fostering growth and success in the sports community.
Jordon Smith
Jordon Smith is an accomplished alumna of Louisiana State University, Clemson University, and the University of Texas at Austin, holding a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. Through her impressive educational journey, Jordon has developed expertise in higher education, leadership, and athletics, which she applies to foster a nurturing environment for student-athletes at Southern Methodist University (SMU). Her dedication to education continues as she pursues a doctoral degree in Higher Education at SMU, furthering her mission to empower student-athletes and the wider campus community.
Jordon’s unwavering passion for student-athlete success is evident in her extensive professional experience. She currently serves as the Senior Academic Counselor for Football and Women’s Basketball at SMU, bringing a rich background of dedication and excellence to her role. Her career in academic support began at the University of Arizona as an Academic Counselor in 2023, and she previously demonstrated her commitment to holistic student-athlete development as the Director of Football Academics at Abilene Christian University.
Her academic foundation is strong, with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration from LSU, a Master of Science in Athletic Leadership from Clemson University, and a Master of Education in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Jordon’s pursuit of knowledge and professional growth is further evidenced by her active involvement in the National Association for Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) External Partnerships Working Group and numerous other committees.
A proud Dallas native, Jordon is thrilled to return to her roots and support student-athletes in achieving their academic and athletic goals. Her commitment to excellence and passion for student-athlete success make her an invaluable asset to the SMU community.