Rutherford, NJ—Felician University business students are another breed – fueled by a combination of career ambition, academic curiosity, and a desire to challenge themselves. Senior Sports Management major Juan Vazquez shares with us what it’s like to balance his excitement about his future career while voraciously absorbing the cutting-edge knowledge, skills, and training to get him there. In this interview, he also touches on his family roots and what makes Felician special as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

What brought you to Felician University?  

I transferred to Felician University from Stevens Institute of Technology because I was looking for a more affordable option while still receiving a strong education. I also wanted to hone in on my interest in sports. I was drawn to a smaller community with more diversity and the opportunity to build closer connections with my professors.

Tell us about what you’re studying at Felician and your post-college ambitions?

I’m currently studying Sports Management with a focus in Data Analytics. I have been able to acquire knowledge regarding how sports organizations conduct business, the roles of different departments, and the specific needs each department has in order to operate effectively. Post-college, I am aiming to work for a sports organization where I can apply data analytics to support decision-making and help improve organizational performance.

How has your experience as a student of Felician’s School of Business and Information Sciences been so far?

My experience with the Felician School of Business and Information Sciences has been nothing but positive. Professors have been supportive and genuinely invested in giving back to the students, allowing me to grow both academically, professionally, and as an individual with real hands-on experiences.

You have already gotten some interesting experience as a data analysis intern with the University of Pittsburgh’s athletic department. Tell us about it. 

My experience with the University of Pittsburgh was a great introduction into how data analytics help support decision making within a sports organization. I was in charge of collecting and visualizing player game data to showcase where players excelled and where they needed improvement. It was truly a fruitful experience where I worked closely with assistant coach Jesse Goleman.

This summer you interned with the HR consulting firm Segal as part of the Felician FIESTA (Fostering Inclusive Excellence for STEM Achievement) program. Tell us about this experience. 

My experience with Segal allowed me to learn industry tools used for data visualization. I worked with the software Power BI alongside a colleague to create a dashboard to showcase survey data. Throughout this internship, I met and collaborated with industry professionals, learned essential tools, and gained coding experience that is applicable to my future endeavors.

What makes Hispanic Heritage Month important to you?

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the history and sacrifices that shaped our communities. It is most important to me because it reminds me of the contributions that past generations have made that shape the person that I am today. My mother was born in Colombia and my grandparents are from Cuba and Puerto Rico.

What does it mean for you to attend a university that is considered a Hispanic Serving Institution? 

It means that I am part of something bigger, an institution that values diversity and culture. Felician is a university that celebrates its diversity and where all perspectives and backgrounds are heard and represented.

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About Felician University 

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,800 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Felician University was recognized in Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026, earning distinction as the No. 1 college for women in New Jersey. Additionally, Felician has been named a best value school by payscale.com and Moneymagazine, and as one of the best college locations in NJ (#4) by niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, transformation, solidarity with people in need, justiceand peace are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu/