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Our major is uniquely positioned in the Nido Qubein School of Communication and provides students with a comprehensive, experiential-based event management bachelor’s degree. Our program allows students to develop essential soft skills and industry-specific knowledge through project-based learning, creative industry partnerships, internships, volunteer work, and access to High Point University’s new state-of-the-art Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

Event Management Program
Event Management Program
One University Parkway High Point, NC 27268
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
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Dr. Clark is responsible for teaching core courses in the curriculum including introduction to event management, event planning and evaluation, diversity, event operations, event administration, and senior seminar. She is committed to making her classes engaging and memorable by providing students opportunities to partner with university and community industry partners. Through innovative and comprehensive projects, students in her classes are prepared to meet the demanding and constantly changing needs of the event industry. In addition to her classes, she enjoys being the faculty advisor for the event management program’s student government club, Planning on Point. This role has allowed her the opportunity to travel with students to important event industry gatherings. For example, in fall 2019 she traveled with a group of event management students to the International Festival and Events Association Convention in Williamsburg, VA, where students were able to engage with some of the largest festival organizers in the world. In May 2023, she plans to teach a Maymester course, Fairs and Festivals, to a group of students while they travel throughout London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. It is her desire to make every class and industry experience offered through the Event Management Program at High Point University memorable and meaningful, so students feel fulfilled and ready to reach their professional goals.   Prior to joining HPU, Dr. Clark served as an Assistant Professor of Sport and Recreation Management at Temple University from 2011-2015. During her time at Temple University, she taught one of the only event management classes offered at the institution, program and special event planning. Her experiences at Temple prepared her for her work within an event-focused curriculum and introduced her to some of the most influential people within the festival and event world today.   Dr. Clark obtained her Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, Tourism Management from Clemson with a focus on community recreation, and a M.A., and B.S. in Sport Management from the University of Connecticut (UCONN). While obtaining her degrees she worked as a recreation/sport programmer and event planner for various nonprofits. In addition to teaching, she greatly enjoys participating in research dedicated to the pedagogy of event management, but most importantly examining marginalized people’s leisure experiences including the managerial experiences of marginalized people working in leisure, sport, and/or tourism industries. Her work has been published in top-tier leisure studies and sport management journals.   When not spending time with her students, Dr. Clark enjoys spending time with her amazing 3 daughters and husband, traveling, attending the neighborhood pool in the summer, playing golf, binge-watching popular TV series, and working in her yard. She finds great pleasure in participating in leisure and not just studying it! 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Dr. Wiitala currently teaches a number of courses in the event management program including introduction to event management and courses in finance, marketing, experience design, risk management, and legal issues in events. She also has taught a number of the elective courses in the program, including Meeting and Conference Planning which she plans to teach during a Maymester in 2024, to a group of students as they explore Germany, which is home to the largest convention spaces in the world. She enjoys exploring project-based learning techniques to allow students a theoretical and applied approach to thinking and learning.   She obtained her Ph.D. in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. In addition, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Event Management with a minor in Business Law from Lasell College and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management.   Prior to entering academia, she worked in the lodging and event sectors of the hospitality industry for over a decade. Her industry experience encompasses country clubs, boutique hotels, conference hotels, full-service resort hotels, and corporate organizations planning mid- to large-scale conventions and events, primarily in the corporate and social event sectors. Her research line investigates strategic crisis communication and media effects of tourist’s risk perception and decision making. Based upon her experience in industry, her current research interests include guest/attendee experiences, experiential design, safety and security, marketing, and consumer behavior in the context of events and event management, tourism, and attractions. She intends to contribute to the field with both theoretical implications and practical applications.   Outside of the classroom, Dr. Wiitala enjoys spending time with her husband and their son and two American Bulldogs. They enjoy traveling, and love visiting Florida and going to the theme parks and beaches whenever they can. They also enjoy attending local festivals and events, going hiking, visiting the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, trying new restaurants, attending concerts, watching sports and just relaxing at home and indulging in binge-worthy shows. 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Chair, Sport, Event, and Hospitality Management Department Associate Professor of Sport Management
Assistant Professor of Event Management
Assistant Professor of Event Management
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Our required courses include 54 credit hours to be completed in our major. Please click on each of the courses to discover more!

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Course Requirements 2022/2023
Bachelor of Arts in Event Management
Bachelor of Arts in Event Management
Degree Requirements Credits
Major Requirements 54
University Core Requirements 36-44
Electives 30-38
Total 128
Minor in Event Management
Minor in Event Management
Minor Requirements Credits
Course Requirements 20
Total 20
Requirements for B.A. in Event Management
Requirements for B.A. in Event Management
Course Course Title Credits
COM 1110 Human Communication 4
COM 1113 Graphic Software Packages 2
EMG 1200 Introduction to Experiential Event Management 4
EMG 1400 Event Planning and Evaluation 4
EMG 2200 Networking and Professional Development in Event Management 2
EMG 2300 Event Operations 4
EMG 2400 Event Financial Resources Management 4
EMG 3200 Experiential Services Marketing and Sponsorship 4
EMG 3300 Administration of Festivals and Events 4
3500/WGS 3550 Events for a Diverse Society 4
EMG 3600 The Management of Risk and Legal Issues in Events 4
EMG 4300 Principles of Event Experience Design 4
EMG 4400 Senior Seminar in Event Management 4
EMG 4811 Internship in Event Management 4
Select 2 credits from the following list of courses:
EMG 2010 Meeting and Conference Planning 2
EMG 2020 Fairs and Festivals 2
EMG 2881/3881/4881 Special Topics 1-4
EMG 4816 Internship 2 2
Course Descriptions
Requirements for Minor in Event Management
Requirements for Minor in Event Management
Course Course Title Credits
EMG 1200 Introduction to Experiential Event Management 4
EMG 1400 Event Planning and Evaluation 4
EMG 2300 Event Operations 4
Select 8 credits from the following list of courses:
EMG 2400 Event Financial Resources Management 4
EMG 3200 Experiential Services Marketing and Sponsorship 4
EMG 3300 Administration of Festivals and Events 4
EMG/WGS 3500 Events for a Diverse Society 4
EMG 4300 Principles of Event Experience Design 4
Course Descriptions
Career Opportunities
The Event Management major prepares students for exciting, impactful and satisfying careers as special event planners, meeting and convention coordinators, banquet services manager, community festival and concert promoters, sport and hallmark event directors, hospitality or wedding venue managers and sales managers, event marketing account executives, member or client engagement manager, visitor or guest experience manager, creative services, corporate hospitality and many other positions working in the public, non-profit, corporate, and government event sectors.

You might become a social life-cycle special event planner producing weddings, reunions, anniversaries, and galas, or work in the tourism, travel, hospitality field managing venues or coordinating experiences. If working as a meeting planner or maybe producing conferences, conventions, expositions, or trade shows is your thing, then this is a great major. Those interested in community, cultural, music, holiday, and hallmark festivals as well as event marketing, sports events, award shows, or non-profit fundraising events need look no farther.
Student Outcomes
Cassady Kreuser
Memphis Grizzlies - NBA

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Name: Erin Valashinas Hometown: Derry, New Hampshire Year: Class of 2023 Major: Strategic communication with a minor in event management Internship: Over the summer, Valashinas worked as a lifestyle public…

Alaina Hays
Philanthropy Roundtable

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Eleonore Catteau
University of California, San Francisco

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Name: Julianna Raymond Hometown: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania Year: Class of 2024 Major: Event management with a minor in social media marketing Internship: Raymond joined Robert Event Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as…

Alana Sullivan
Learfield - Wolfpack Sports Properties

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Name: Abbie Matthews Hometown: Autryville, North Carolina Year: Class of 2023 Major: Event management with a minor in social media marketing Internship: Matthews joins the summer internship program at The…

Sara Fountain
Nationwide Marketing Group

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Ashton Kajcienski
Live Nation Entertainment

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Emmy T. Cristiano
Signature Wealth Strategies

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Study Abroad
At High Point University, our emphasis on global perspectives is designed to provide students with opportunities to enhance their international awareness and to develop their cross-cultural communication skills. Study abroad is strongly encouraged as a part of this emphasis on global studies. With a variety of extraordinary options at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, students at High Point University are encouraged to study abroad as early as the summer after their freshman year. Employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want well-rounded individuals who have familiarity with diverse cultures, special skills, and knowledge of the world around them.
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