New Faculty Members Join School of Business
Trio Brings Decades of Academic and Industry Experience In Sports Marketing, Global Economics and Finance
The Shenandoah University School of Business is pleased to welcome three new faculty members this semester: Assistant Professor of Sport Management David Eyl, M.S., J.D.; Assistant Professor of Economics Diego Nicolas Marcos, Ph.D.; and Visiting Instructor of Esports Alexander Merle-Smith ’21, MBA.
We are very excited to have these new and talented faculty members join us in the School of Business, said Dean Astrid Sheil, Ph.D. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the classroom, which will serve our students well.”
Astrid Sheil, Ph.D., Dean of the Shenandoah University School of Business
Eyl brings more than 20 years of expertise in sports marketing, management and sales; sports entrepreneurship; and sports law, labor and agent management. He has worked with many superstar athletes and several Hall of Fame college basketball coaches, and held executive roles in building and growing sports verticals for several Fortune 1000 companies. He has been an adjunct professor of sports industry management (SIM) at Georgetown University and an adjunct professor of sports marketing at American University.
Eyl holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Temple University School of Law, an M.S. in Sport Management from The Ohio State University, and B.A. from Emory University. He was admitted to state bar associations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The Sport Management program in the School of Business continues to grow exponentially, thanks in part to the relevance of our curriculum and to our excellent faculty. David Eyl is a sports attorney with more than 20 years working with professional athletes. He brings the knowledge, experience, and connections that will help our students prepare for a very competitive marketplace.”
Brian Wigley, Ed.D., Professor of Sport Management and Director of the Shenandoah University School of Business Sport Management, Esports and Entertainment Division
Dr. Marcos brings more than 22 years of scholarship and business experience in finance and international economics to the classroom. He has taught international economics at three prestigious universities in Argentina: the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, the Universidad del Centro Educativo Latinoamericano, and the Universidad Austral. Marcos’ industry experience includes expertise in business development, and he has served as a consultant and member on several corporate boards. His C-suite work includes serving on the board of directors for San Cristóbal Sociedad Mutual de Seguros Generales, a large insurance company with operations in Argentina,Uruguay and Paraguay; El Sol del Paraguay Compañía de Seguros y in Reaseguros in Paraguay; and Argentina Clearing S.A, a financial institution in Rosario. He has also served as economist and chief of planning and project management at Sidersa S.A., the largest Steel Service Center in Latin America.
Marcos holds a Ph.D. in Economics and a M.S. in Finance from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina; a M.S. in Project Management Universidad del Centro de Estudios Macroeconómicos Argentinos & Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires, Argentina; and a B.A. in Economics from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario.
Visiting Instructor of Esports Alexander Merle-Smith, MBA, is responsible for teaching undergraduate esports courses as well as helping with broadcast production and events. While a graduate assistant at Shenandoah University, he produced weekly two-hour broadcasts, developed digital content, hosted broadcasting sessions, and developed still and motion graphics. Previous experience included managing technical production and online events for Caroline Esports Hub, where he was responsible for marketing, broadcasting, and developing a streaming schedule for leagues, as well as other production-related activities. He also served as an on-camera talent and color commentator for the Charlotte Phoenix. In addition, he was a finalist for the 2020 NACE Shoutcaster of the Year Award. Merle-Smith earned an MBA with a concentration in esports management from Shenandoah in 2021.
The Shenandoah University School of Business combines AACSB International-accredited programs with rich student-life activities, internships, study-abroad opportunities, mentorship, entrepreneurship experiences, and leadership opportunities. Learn more at su.edu/business/
