Dr. Paul Pedersen, who is an East High graduate of the Class of 1988, is a renowned scholar and researcher in sports communication and sport management at Indiana University-Bloomington. After graduating from East High, Dr. Pedersen earned his bachelor of science degree cum laude in business administration from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida in 1992. He then earned two master of arts degrees in business administration and public relations from Emerson College in 1993 and in American History from University of Central Florida in 1997. Dr. Pedersen earned his Ph.D. in sport management from Florida State University in 2000.
Beginning his sport communication career as a sportswriter and sports business columnist, Dr. Pedersen quickly gained a reputation in his professional field as a winner. He has researched, published, and presented on the activities and practices of many sport organization personnel, particularly those associated with the print media and affiliated with intercollegiate and interscholastic sports.
Known for his extraordinary work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, Dr. Pedersen is held in high esteem among his colleagues and graduate students of being one of the premier sport management professors in the United States. In addition, he was inducted as a North American Society for Sport Management Research Fellow in 2009. This honor was bestowed on Dr. Pedersen for his contribution to the sport management field by his publication of five scholarly books and over 55 peer-reviewed articles in such refereed publications as Journal of Sport Management and Journal of Sport Economics.
Dr. Pedersen’s first book, Build It and they will Come: The Arrival of the Tampa Bay Rays (1997), is an historical work that examines various aspects of baseball, including spring training, stadium construction, urban politics, relocation, expansion, ownership, and team development. He is the founding editor of the International Journal of Sport Communication. In addition to his professional and scholarly publications and journal articles, Dr. Pedersen has made over 60 refereed presentations at professional conferences. He has also given lectures on sport communication and sport management around the world, including China and Korea.
As a distinguished college professor, Dr. Pedersen currently is a doctoral dissertation chairman and doctoral dissertation committee member for 20 Ph.D. candidates at Indiana University and other universities. In addition to his work with doctoral graduate students, Dr. Pedersen teaches sport communication courses at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels at Indiana University.
While attending East High School, Dr. Pedersen was active in the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA), specialized in vocational electronics, under the tutelage of the late, popular Adrian Gonzales. He placed second and first, respectively, in Colorado electronic job skill demonstrations at state competition in 1987 and 1988; in addition, he placed fifth in district competition in extemporaneous speaking in 1986.
Dr. Pedersen’s scholarly development throughout his educational pursuits and subsequent successes in his professional education career have earned him Who’s Who recognition among American High School Students in 1987 and 1988; Who’s Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges (1992-93); Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Educators (2005, 2006, 2007); Who’s Who of Merging Leaders (2007); Who’s Who in America (2005 through 2009).
Professional activities outside of the classroom and university environment include Editor of the International Journal of Sport Communication (2007 to Present); Editor, Sport and Law Press (2004); Sports Business Columnist, The Treasure Coast Business Journal, Stuart, Florida (2003- 2005); Member, Board of Directors, Center for Minority Leadership in Sport Management (2004-Present).
