Students Launch NC State’s Women in Sport Club

The future of women in sport is being shaped on campus, led by two College of Natural Resources students who are transforming their passion into action and inspiring others along the way.

Emma Busenbark and Laurie Clarstrom formed the NC State Women in Sport Club to create a campus-wide network dedicated to leadership, professional growth and mentorship.

Approved by the university earlier this year, the student organization has become a growing hub for anyone passionate about championing women in sport.

“Ultimately, the mission and goal is just to make women feel like they are empowered and supported through their time at NC State, whether that is them being student athletes or being sport management majors,” Busenbark said.

Discovering a Passion for Sport Management

Busenbark, a second-year student studying sport management, unexpectedly discovered a passion for the field after managing the women’s basketball team in high school.

This involvement evolved into broader responsibilities — including social media, statistics, game-day operations, and serving as a student athletic director — deepening her love for the field. 

During her senior year of high school, Busenbark took a course in athletic management, which led her to become a student athletic director and set her on the path she’s on today.

Since starting her journey at NC State, Busenbark has worked as a recruiting intern for NC State Football and as a fan experience and marketing intern for NC State Athletics.

Busenbark also played an integral role in planning the annual Women in Sport Leadership Summit, a campus event designed to develop, connect and advance students entering the sport industry.

For Clarstrom, a Minnesota native who later moved to Canada, hockey was her first love and the sport she originally hoped to pursue professionally.

But that path changed when a high school teacher invited Clarstrom to manage the basketball team, overseeing stats and daily operations, a role she quickly embraced.

After realizing she could study sport management in college, Clarstrom decided to pursue it at NC State, eager to gain the experience and knowledge needed for a career in athletics.

Now a fourth-year student, Clarstrom has supported NC State Athletics with game-day operations and served as a student ambassador for the College of Natural Resources.

Launching a Movement on Campus

Within her first semester on campus, Busenbark set out to build a community of like-minded peers who were passionate about supporting women in sport.

Inspired by a similar organization at another university, Busenbark shared her vision with Kim Bush, a teaching professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

Bush, who works to support and expand opportunities for women and girls in sport through education and leadership programs, immediately encouraged Busenbark to pursue her vision, serving as a mentor throughout the process.

Ashley Correa, a 2019 alum of the sport management program, also played a significant role, according to Busenbark, who worked with Correa, Bush and other undergraduate students to launch the Women in Sport Leadership Summit in 2023.

“Ashley has had such a great impact on me since I met her,” Busenbark said. “She supported my ideas and dreams from the very beginning, and her guidance and encouragement have been a crucial part of the club’s development.”

Throughout the spring 2025 semester, Bush and Busenbark refined the concept before presenting it at the Women in Sport Spring Series to industry professionals, mentors and peers.

It was during this time that Clarstrom and Busenbark first connected and discussed the club during a five-week mentoring program at a local all-girls boarding school.

Clarstrom eventually joined Busenbark’s initiative and helped finalize the club’s constitution. The organization received official university approval in June 2025.

To date, the club has 108 members, and it has only been one semester since it was formed. Any undergraduate or graduate student can join the club, regardless of major or gender.

“Our mission now as a club, after we’ve gotten that initial engagement, is just making sure that they have a space where they feel welcomed,” Busenbark said. “We want them to feel encouraged to do anything they want, whether that is going into the sports industry or just going into any industry.”

As the club continues to grow, members can look forward to more events and tours of NC State Athletics’ facilities. Its first event, a “women in sport panel,” featured four recent graduates sharing their journeys in the sport industry and offering advice.

The speakers included Tylene Powell ‘25, sport director at Special Olympics North Carolina; Shelby Howell ‘25, recruiting operations assistant at NC State Football; Paige Neiman ‘24, youth community outreach specialist at Carolina Hurricanes; and Diana Marcheschi ‘24, marketing associate at North Carolina Courage.

Clarstrom emphasized that professional development, not just community building, is central to the club. The organization helps students secure internships and connect with professionals, making career support a top priority.