Caroline Meizen '21 knew the value of a Bryant education long before she began her college search. Like 10% of Bryant's incoming Class of 2026, Caroline had a parent who had gone to Bryant University—both of them, in fact! “I first heard about Bryant from my parents,” she says. “They had a great experience here, and they were always raving about how awesome Bryant is.”
But Caroline wanted to create her own legacy. “At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to follow in their direction or make my path. So I did my own research,” she says. After visiting Bryant and learning more about the University, she discovered she could do both: she could go to the same school her parents had found success at while still making her educational experience her own.
"I chose Bryant because, looking at the future, I wanted to be in a job where I was successful, and I knew Bryant would be able to provide me with the skills to help me out and push me to success,” she says.
A Marketing major concentrating in Sport Studies, Caroline spent her four years at Bryant trying new things and finding the success she had hoped for. “You need to be open to what’s around you,” she said. “I wanted to make the most of my four years of college and that means challenging myself and exploring.”
“I learned so much from that class every single day, and it was eye-opening to see all of the possibilities out there.”
For Caroline, that meant jumping at new opportunities, including being part of the student government’s Ways and Means Committee, where she helped make decisions that shape Bryant. Her Sophomore International Experience trip to Argentina and Chile – the first time she’d ever left the country – inspired her to continue exploring the world. A love of running led her to try out for the Cross Country and Track teams, and her teammates became like a second family.
She approached her studies in the same manner, mixing fields and disciplines to create a perfect-fit education. Caroline knew she wanted a career in corporate and fan engagement, with an eye towards professional sports. Her Sport Studies curriculum allowed her to take courses in everything from sport psychology and sociology to the economics of sport to media production. "You get to see so many aspects of the sports world and how they all work together," she says.
“One of the most important things you learn at Bryant is that it's okay to explore different paths and find the one that’s right for you."
In her Entrepreneurial Marketing course, Caroline was able to test herself and build invaluable real-world-ready experience by acting as a marketing consultant for a real business and delivering a compelling, actionable, and data-informed marketing plan. “I learned so much from that class every single day, and it was eye-opening to see all of the possibilities out there,” says Meizen, who says the course gave her a look behind the scenes at developing fan engagement.
A trip to the NCAA Careers in Sports Forum, made possible through Bryant’s Athletics Department, was also invaluable as she prepared for her career. “The forum was such an eye-opening experience,” says Meizen. “It made me really think about what I want to contribute to the sports world and gave all of us who attended a taste of what to expect.”
Now, after graduation, Meizen is the Manager for Ticket Member Experience with the Worcester Red Sox baseball team, where she helps to create and deliver a world-class experience for sports fans year-round. It’s a great fit for her talents and her passions, one she’s grateful that Bryant helped make possible. “One of the most important things you learn at Bryant is that it's okay to explore different paths and find the one that’s right for you,” she says.
