Derrick Heggans is an Assistant Professor of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, serving as the Faculty Champion for the Sports Management Fellows Program.  Heggans also serves as the Founder and CEO of Team Turnaround, an organization supporting President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative” focused on improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color. Team Turnaround is focused on using the infrastructure and assets of the sports and entertainment communities to promote equity in education for all underserved kids.

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Prior to starting Team Turnaround, Heggans served as the Managing Director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative, a research and education-focused think tank based at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania from 2010-2013. While at Wharton, Heggans founded and served as Director of the Wharton Sports Business Academy.

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Prior to joining the Wharton Sports Business Initiative, Heggans worked at AOL as General Manager of AOL’s Sports Channel, overseeing all business and programming operations. In 2008, he was named by Sports Business Journal as one of the “20 Most Influential in Sports Digital Media”. In March 2009, Heggans was named to Sports Business Journal 2009 “Forty Under 40” list of most dynamic young executives in business of Sports under the age of 40.

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Prior to his time with AOL, Heggans worked for the National Football League from 1998 through 2004 in various legal roles. In May 1998, he began working at NFL Properties, the marketing and licensing division of the National Football League, in the Legal & Business Affairs Department as a staff attorney. His primary role was serving as business affairs counsel for Corporate Sponsorships, Marketing and Special Events. In May 2001, Heggans moved to the Office of the Commissioner of the National Football League as Assistant Counsel for Broadcast Operations and Policy, where he assisted the Broadcasting Department, NFL Films, and NFL Enterprises in negotiating, structuring and administering various League media contracts; advised clubs on broadcast issues; served as chief business affairs counsel for implementation of Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and other NFL run special events; and served on the Super Bowl Policy Committee.

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A native and current resident of Washington, DC, Heggans graduated from Duke University in 1992. He also graduated from George Washington University’s School of Law in 1998 and is a member of the NY Bar.

Throughout his successful career as an investment banker, private investor and entrepreneur, Harry has maintained his passion for sports.  While attending The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as an undergrad, he simultaneously coached high school basketball and worked in the Sports Department at the Philadelphia Inquirer.  He subsequently earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and went on to own and manage a minor league basketball team while working on Wall Street.  Since retiring as a Sr. Managing Director at Bear Stearns, Harry has sponsored several academic scholarships at the University of Pennsylvania, served on the University's Basketball Board, and supported  the Wharton Sports Business Initiative. His extensive experience in financial strategy coupled with his passion for athletics and academics makes him a very valuable part of the Global Sports Business and Entertainment Academy team.

Matthew Schuster is a corporate strategy executive, consultant and venture investor, primarily focused on the Sports, Media and Entertainment industries. He holds various Venture Advisory roles in the areas of Sports, Education and Social Impact (e.g., Athleta-Ed, Global Sports & Entertainment Business Academy, World Surf League, Capital Factory, A Show For A Change).

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Previously, Matt was the Vice President of Corporate Strategy and M&A for Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG).  In his role, Schuster identified and evaluated potential investment opportunities and worked across all divisions of the company to strategically optimize their businesses and develop new commercial venture opportunities.  Prior to joining Endeavor in 2013, Schuster worked at The Walt Disney Company, focusing on strategy, investments and business development in the sports, media, entertainment and consumer products sectors.  He also has experience working in various positions in corporate strategy, business development and mergers & acquisitions at the National Football League, General Electric Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

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A graduate of Indiana University, Schuster also earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. Originally from Fort Worth, TX, he currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Tara and son Grayson.

Aleizha Batson has over 30 years of public and community relations and marketing experience, including serving as Deputy Director of Communications for the Mayor in Jacksonville, FL. Currently, She is leading communications for the northern market of a healthcare company in support of the Market President. 

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Aleizha's background also includes PR and Marketing at a public relations agency, an internet start-up company, as well as several professional sports teams and organizations, including the PGA TOUR and the Philadelphia Eagles. 

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Aleizha resides in Jacksonville, FL  and she graduated from Temple University in 1993. She also received her M. Ed in Sports Administration from Temple and a Master of Public Policy From Jacksonville University.