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Faculty/Staff Directory

Dr. James Hagler Jr

Office Hours:	Fall 2026 Office Hours: Monday Cochran 1230pm-430pm Tuesday Macon 11am-1230pm & 2pm-430pm Other times by appointment
Locations: (Campus & Office)	Cochran - Wiggs Hall - 4 Phone: 478-934-7364 Macon - PSC - 380
Biography:	Dr. James R. Hagler, Jr. is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in sport management, sport marketing, sport law, sport administration, governance, finance, and related disciplines. Prior to joining the faculty full-time, Dr. Hagler spent nearly a decade in collegiate athletics administration, serving as Associate Director of Athletics & Recreation and Interim Director of Athletics at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. His professional experience includes athletic compliance, recreation management, sports information, event operations, facility planning, budgeting, strategic planning, fundraising, and student affairs leadership. Dr. Hagler's research focuses on higher education leadership, institutional mergers and consolidations, intercollegiate athletics, sport governance, Title IX, and emerging technologies in sport and higher education. He is a Fellow with the Center for Higher Education Mergers and Acquisitions. His scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications, book contributions, conference presentations, and invited articles examining the intersection of athletics and higher education policy. An active member of numerous university committees, Dr. Hagler has been recognized for excellence in teaching with the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ School of Business Undergraduate Teacher of the Year Award. He holds a Doctor of Public Administration with a concentration in Sport Management from Valdosta State University, dual master's degrees in Sports Management and Sports Coaching from the United States Sports Academy, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Columbus State University.
Teaching and Research Interests:	Teaching Interests Dr. Hagler's teaching interests include sport management, sport marketing, sport law, sport governance, sport finance, athletic administration, organizational leadership, strategic management, higher education administration, and business management. He enjoys creating engaging learning environments that bridge academic theory with real-world application, preparing students for leadership roles across the sport industry and higher education. Research Interests Dr. Hagler's research focuses on higher education leadership and organizational change, with particular emphasis on institutional mergers and consolidations, intercollegiate athletics, student-athlete success, sport governance, and higher education policy. His current scholarship also explores Title IX compliance, the application of artificial intelligence in sport and higher education, sport marketing, and strategic leadership. His work seeks to provide practical, evidence-based solutions that enhance organizational effectiveness, improve student outcomes, and support innovation across higher education and the sport industry.
Courses:	Fall 2026 TBA
Education: (All institutions attended and degrees or credentials earned)	Doctorate of Public Administration, Valdosta State University, completed October 2021 Additional: 24 Hours complete in Ed.D. in Sports Management Leadership at United States Sports Academy Masters of Sports Science, Sports Management with emphasis in NCAA Compliance, United States Sports Academy, 2009 Masters of Sports Science, Sports Coaching, United States Sports Academy, 2009 Bachelors of Business Administration, Business Management, Columbus State University, 2007 In Progress: Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing, Clayton State University, Expected July 2026
CV:	8/1/26-Present - Associate Professor of Sport Management, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ 3/1/22-Present - Consultant - SPH Consulting 2/1/23-Present - Fellow - CHEMA 8/1/19-7/31/26 - Assistant Professor of Sport Management, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ 3/15/10-7/31/19 - Associate Director of Athletics, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ (3/15/10-1/5/13 - Director of Recreation & Wellness, Macon State College) 14 months during the period spent as Interim Director of Athletics 2/1/09-2/28/10 - Substitute Teacher, Marion County School District, GA 2/15/09-3/14/10 - Director of Operations, Doug Blevins Kicking & Punting School 11/1/07-1/31/09 - District Sales Coordinator, Aflac, FL 10/29/01-10/31/07 - Customer Service Specialist, Aflac, GA
Professional Experience:	̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ 3 Years as Director of Recreation & Wellness 6 Years 5 Months as Associate Director of Athletics & Recreation 14 months as Interim Director of Athletics in 2 stints Other: 9 Years in insurance industry in multiple roles 6 Years as Tennis League Director with World Team Tennis 16 Years as Adjunct Faculty at two institutions 5 years in Higher Education Consulting
Publications and Scholarships: (Last 5 Years)	Dissertation: 10/28/2021 - A Success Story? An Exploration of the Consolidation Efforts in the University System of Georgia. https://vtext.valdosta.edu/xmlui/handle/10428/5195 Presentation at Valdosta State University Research Symposium: https://youtu.be/qII2rpf1toc Books Azziz, R., Jacobs, L, Jacobs, B., & Katzman, R. (2025). Leading Existential Change in Higher Ed. Contributor for Chapter 12: Athletics. Publication release date October 28, 2025. https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53736/leading-existential-change-higher-ed?srsltid=AfmBOoqQxbsxm16AiKzg20iAQkBeepRwiiEl3MxP1jHANJ5W1evRAm1g In Progress: Hagler, J., The Impact of EADA Reporting on Title IX Compliance. Hagler, J. & Schimmang, L. A View of Participation Trophies in the State of Georgia and Country of Germany. Narsing, A & Hagler, Jr., Integrating AI in Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Financial Policy: A Comprehensive Analysis of Lower Back and Leg Injuries in Varsity Soccer Players: Presented at Institute for Global Business Research, April 2025, Publication forthcoming. Blogs written for Higher Education Mergers and Acquisitions Regarding the Impact on Athletics: Hagler, J., (June 11, 2024). Not All Students Are The Same: Student-Athletes in Mergers And Closures: https://sphconsultinggroup.com/2024/06/11/not-all-students-are-the-same-student-athletes-in-mergers-and-closures/ Hagler, J., (February 25, 2023). What Becomes of Athletic Departments in Higher Education Mergers: https://sphconsultinggroup.com/2023/02/25/what-becomes-of-athletic-departments-in-higher-education-mergers/
Professional Affiliations:	United States Sports University (USSU) Alumni Association NIRSA - National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (2010-2018) NASSM - North American Society for Sport Management (2007-Present)
Organizations:	Cochran Lodge No. 217 F&AM, Cochran, GA. (PM) Al Sihah Shriners, Macon, GA Scottish Rite of Middle Georgia
Awards and Honors:	̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ - Tenure Awarded April 2026 ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ School of Business Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, 2022-23 Southern States Athletic Conference All Faculty Team, 2021-22 ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Student Affairs Unsung Hero Award - 2019 Valdosta State University Honor Society

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