ETSU graduate student Ajay Samtani is gaining hands-on experience in sport management while serving youth through community-engaged learning and internships. This story is the first in a series on “Students Making a Difference This Summer.”

Ajay Samtani has spent his summer making a difference in the lives of youth while gaining experience that is preparing him for a career in school athletic management.

Community-engaged learning opens doors in sport management

The East Tennessee State University graduate student from Seymour, Tennessee, is an intern in sports sales and development with the Johnson City Convention and Visitor Bureau. In this role, he helps plan, organize, market and direct sporting events, such as the Big South Conference Basketball Tournament and the NJCAA D3 baseball World Series, as well as other events sponsored by the city.

His work with the Big South tournament was tied to the “Corporate Social Responsibility” community-engaged learning course taught at ETSU by Dr. Amy Greene. Samtani and his fellow students took leading roles in this annual event in the areas of marketing, basketball operations, ticketing, hospitality and the fan zone. They also played major roles in the tournament’s Education Day, when Big South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery and tournament sponsor representatives visited area schools to speak with students.

In addition, Samtani is a sports camp coach for the Johnson City Department of Parks and Recreation, helping children in different age groups learn to play basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis and more.

Internship with Visit Johnson City builds leadership skills

Samtani said he’s had a lot of fun while making an impact and developing skills he will need as a future athletic director. “I’ve gotten to interact with kids, teaching them all about these sports and making sure they’re properly trained,” he said. “It also involves communicating with parents.”

Samtani finds inspiration to give back to the community in the hospitality Johnson City offers.

“Meeting all of these faces throughout my time – not only as a student, but also here at Visit Johnson City – motivates me to keep going and keep putting smiles on people’s faces,” he said. “I’m always the guy who’s trying to do the utmost to make sure everybody’s satisfied and happy.

“I have been so honored and blessed just to take part in everything and to meet and connect with so many people.”

From campus leadership to a career in athletic administration

Samtani, an ETSU alumnus, became well-prepared for the work he does today through his campus service during his undergraduate years. He was an Expedition Leader, giving tours to prospective students and their families; a Buccaneer Involvement Guide for first-year students; and a Preview and Orientation Leader, helping new students learn more about ETSU and everything it offers.

Samtani chose media and communication as his undergraduate major with a minor in radio, television and film because he wanted to go into sports broadcasting, with the end goal of working for a major network or professional sports league. But by the time he graduated from ETSU in 2025, his passion for sportscasting had faded, so he entered graduate school, taking a graduate assistantship with the Department of Sport and Recreation Management. He aims to become an athletic director at the elementary or secondary level.

“I have a passion for youth sports, specifically for K-12,” he said. “I prefer to be in the youth world, impacting children and being a role model for them as much as I can.

Learn more about community-engaged learning at ETSU.

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