Posted on: May 16, 2017
By: Allen Wallace, [email protected], 803-777-5667

An education at the University of South Carolina can open doors anywhere in the world, as Henry Wear knows firsthand.

Wear formally received his Ph.D. in sport and entertainment management just this May, but his work at South Carolina has already earned him his first postdoctoral position, as a lecturer in the sport management program at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

“I strongly feel that without my time at the University of South Carolina I would not be in the position I'm in now,” Wear said. “The combination of coursework, research, and teaching experience truly prepared me to enter the world of academia. Everyone within the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management was unbelievably supportive, and genuinely cared about my success.”

Deakin University, like the University of South Carolina, is renowned as the home of one of the world’s best sport management programs. Wear, who has already begun work at Deakin, said the job is a dream come true.

“My wife (Heidi) and I had always discussed how great it would be to live abroad, to experience a new culture and a new way of life,” he said. “When we looked at everything the position had to offer it really was a no-brainer and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity. The position itself is going great so far. My colleagues at the university have been nothing but supportive, and they've ensured that I've settled in as easily as possible after moving across the world. Melbourne is a wonderful city, and find myself enjoying it more and more each day.”

“I strongly feel that without my time at the University of South Carolina I would not be in the position I'm in now.”

—Henry Wear, Ph.D., Sport and Entertainment Management

Wear is an Oregon native and completed his bachelor of science degree in his home state. He then earned his master’s degree at the University of Kansas before coming to USC as part of the first cohort sport and entertainment management Ph.D. candidates in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. He said arriving in the South came with a bit of culture shock, but he quickly learned to love it.

“I'll sound like a bit of a broken record, but it was the people across the university and Columbia that made all of my experiences great,” he said. “Faculty and staff were unbelievable supportive, my fellow Ph.D. students were always willing to help one another in times of need, and the students in my classrooms were responsible, passionate and kind.”

Wear said while many people helped him along the road, one faculty member was particularly influential.
“My advisor, Dr. Bob Heere, was possibly the most important person in my life, besides my wife of course, for the last three years,” Wear said. “He was supportive when I needed it, but knew when to push and challenge me to help me improve. Without him, I would not be where I am today.”

Matt Brown, chair of the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina, said Wear is a great example for others in the program. “Henry’s new position at Deakin is a testament to the quality of the students we have attracted to our program as well as to the respect that they have already gained in their brief academic career.”

As one of the first alumni to graduate from his Ph.D. program, Wear’s early career success is setting the tone for future gamecock graduates to strive for global leadership opportunities.