Honoring a Legacy of Excellence in Sport Management
In honor of more than 20 years of teaching, graduate program leadership, alumni stewardship, and heartfelt student service, we are proud to announce the establishment of the Professor Steve McKelvey '86 Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will support students in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management who aspire to build careers in professional baseball.
Named for a former MLB Commissioner’s Office employee with a storied history of placing students in baseball operations and cultivating an unparalleled UMass alumni network of MLB front office executives, this scholarship will help future Isenberg students follow in the footsteps of the many careers Steve has influenced.
About Professor Steve McKelvey
Professor Steve McKelvey is a beloved icon of the McCormack Sport Management community at UMass Amherst. A 1986 alumnus of the MS in Sport Management program, Steve has spent decades enriching students’ lives and bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry experience.
Known as the quintessential “ideas man,” Steve’s tireless work ethic and creative thinking have fostered numerous departmental scholarships and financial initiatives that link alumni passions to student success. His leadership has directly influenced student recruitment, retention, practical training, and post-graduate success—hallmarks of his enduring legacy.
Throughout his career, Steve has taught courses including sport law, sport promotion & sales, sport sponsorship, and ambush marketing. He has cultivated deep, two-way relationships with students and alumni alike and has been recognized with the President’s Award in Appreciation of Outstanding Service from the Sport & Recreation Law Association.
A true “five-tool player,” Steve McKelvey’s name is synonymous with excellence in sport management, and he has empowered the success of thousands of UMass students.
Your Impact
By contributing to the Professor Steve McKelvey '86 Endowed Scholarship, you help ensure that Steve’s dedication to students and the sport management profession lives on. Your gift will provide support to undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Sport Management at the University who are pursuing a career in the game of baseball and are working at a related internship or full-time job. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and financial need as determined by the University. Students who work as baseball agents, or on the baseball operations or business side of Major or Minor League Baseball, will qualify.
Your gift will also:
- Preserve a lasting legacy: Honor a beloved faculty member whose mentorship, creativity, and leadership have shaped generations of UMass students.
- Strengthen the Isenberg community: Enable students to connect with alumni and industry leaders, continuing the network Steve built over decades.
Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal of $200,000, ensuring that Steve’s impact continues for generations to come.
To celebrate Steve’s legacy and inspire even greater support for the Professor Steve McKelvey ’86 Endowed Scholarship, Patrick and Kathleen (McKelvey) Burke are making it possible for your gift to go even further. For every $1,000 raised (individual gifts or cumulatively), they will generously contribute $2,500—up to a total of $50,000!
Alumni Testimonials
Mark Scialabba (MBA/MS ’06)
"The UMass Sport Management program has long been recognized as a world-class leader in sport management education, a distinction due in large part to the exceptional expertise and dedication of its faculty. Among these distinguished educators, Professor Steve McKelvey embodied the program’s unwavering commitment to excellence through his deep knowledge of the sports industry and his remarkable mentorship of students and alumni alike.
Professor McKelvey was deeply committed to bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world, creating meaningful opportunities for students to apply their lessons and build lasting industry connections. His guidance, support, and passion for student success helped launch and advance countless careers across the sports landscape. So many UMass alumni working in baseball and throughout the sports industry owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Professor McKelvey for his insight, encouragement, and belief in their potential."
Kyle Bamberger (MBA/MS ’19)
"You can't mention the McCormack program without thinking of Steve McKelvey. His level of care for his students is unmatched and is a significant reason why the program has become what it is. Personally, I know I wouldn't have received the opportunities I did without Steve's mentorship, which began before I applied and continued throughout my time at UMass. Our bond grew especially strong because of the game of baseball, and I know he's developed equally strong relationships with alumni across the game. The fraternity of baseball professionals from UMass is a special one, and Steve is at the center of it."
Neal Huntington (MS ’92)
"Steve was a tireless advocate for the UMass Sport Management program and students. He was not only a tremendous ambassador and representative for UMass, but he is a terrific person and friend. Steve's passion for helping people secure professional opportunities and provide guidance to help with their personal and professional growth is one of the many attributes that allowed him to be a difference maker in the industry."
