Gartner was joined by her former professor and mentor, Nick Pietruszkiewicz, an assistant professor of journalism and interim program director of sports communications. Together, they presented an engaging overview of their careers and the sports communications program.

The bachelor's in sports communication is an interdisciplinary program that equips students with skills, knowledge and hands-on experience to pursue careers in the sports communication industry. The curriculum will integrate coursework from the School of Communications, School of Business, College of Arts and Sciences and School of Health Sciences. 

Welcoming its first cohort this fall, students will learn vital skills, including covering games, producing and editing sports videos, developing news reports and social media posts, working with sports data and analytics and more. Taking advantage of the resources on campus, students will also have an opportunity to put their education in practice by joining student media groups and working alongside Quinnipiac Athletics to cover Division I games. 

Providing a blend of educational experience and industry knowledge, Gartner shared invaluable insights to admitted students interested in studying communications. During her time at Quinnipiac, Gartner pursued her master’s degree in sports journalism. 

“She is exactly what I imagine the sports communication program to be — so many different opportunities to work in sports,” said Pietruszkiewicz. “Nicole is one of the great success stories of any class I’ve taught here.” 

This event was a full-circle moment for Gartner, as her career journey began when Pietruszkiewicz invited an ESPN representative to campus as a guest speaker. After the lecture, Pietruszkiewicz shared a link to Gartner’s project, "Sports and Spices," a website and blog exploring the intersection of food and sports. This connection landed her a job at ESPN just months before commencement.

Upon joining ESPN, Gartner was responsible for posting on the Facebook and Twitter accounts that reached 10 million users at the time. Working at ESPN while pursuing her master’s degree full-time, Gartner was challenged with balancing her professional development while finishing her degree. Despite this challenge, Gartner was inspired and motivated by not only her love for sports but also by the riveting energy at the company.

"Sports is just the best,” said Gartner. “I genuinely mean that and I will work in it for the rest of my life. When you work in sports, you blur the lines of enjoyment and work and there is nothing more fulfilling than sitting with your colleagues who become friends that you’re in the trenches with."

Gartner remained at ESPN for around six years, serving various positions including assistant digital editor, associate digital video editor, YouTube and ESPN.com, social branded content specialist and manager of social ad integration and strategy.

Working at one of the most prestigious companies in sports communication at just 21 years old, Gartner credits her career to the unwavering support and mentorship she earned at Quinnipiac. 

“One thing that I can honestly tell you about Quinnipiac and Nick is that you will never meet people who work harder work for you, with you,” she said. “He was with me every single day at ESPN when I had my doubts, when I had my trepidations and when I said 'can I do this?' He was always in my corner. And so the reason I am where I am today is because it started with him.”

Switching gears in her career, Gartner transitioned into a sports agent position at Maxx Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc., leveraging talent on social media, business development and branding.

A few years later, Gartner made another shift in her career when she received a call from a former colleague requesting her to join Yahoo Sports. Eager to jump back into a high-energy environment in the heart of sports, Gartner joined Yahoo Sports as senior manager for content revenue and strategy. She currently oversees premium revenue strategies across sports product content and partnerships. 

"If you can find people in your career who you love, follow them," said Gartner. "I love my job. I go into work every day and my brain tingles from how much I get to use it."

With such a prestigious career in sports, Gartner emphasizes the impact of this new program in preparing students for success when entering the industry.

“What this program is going to be able to offer is an equal amount of education in the classroom that you will get from internships,” she said. “The fact that there is a sports curriculum means that you don’t have to rely on internships to get experience in the world of sports, which is groundbreaking.”

In addition to curriculum, Gartner highlights the resources and experiences that students can take advantage of on-campus to be multi-faceted when entering the competitive industry. Student organizations such as Q30 Television, The Quinnipiac Chronicle and QBSN, allow students to gain first-hand experience in communications and media, building their portfolios with real, tangible work. 

"I think something that can't be understated is the quality of the technology at this university. The stuff that I did in school here absolutely can be used for real, which not every university can say," said Gartner. "It is one of the highest technologically advanced university that I’ve ever seen. The studio space here is legitimate. The stuff that I did when I was in school here can absolutely be used for real, which not every university can say. I was floored when I got here 10 years ago."

Now, as an esteemed leader in the industry, Gartner encouraged admitted students to follow their passion for sports and take advantage of the unparalleled mentorship, connections and experiences in the Bobcat community. 

"The second that you find something that you're good at and enjoy it, sprint at it," she said. "Because there will be a company one day that values it."