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September 2025

Art Department Course featuring Charly Palmer | Emory Campus

Renowned artist Charly Palmer leads a powerful new Art Department course focused on the development of a new mural that will serve as an important cornerstone of the Footwork initiative. Students will work hands-on to develop a mural image for our Footwork exhibition exploring public art, visual storytelling, and community impact.  

January 2026

Impact Lab World Cup Speaker Series | Oxford Campus | Jan. 28, 2026 at 6pm

Oxford College kicks off Footwork 2026 with a talk from Sara Toussaint, current co-CEO of TMJ. A trailblazer in the sports industry, Toussaint brings over twenty years of experience spanning Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Mexican National Team, and more. Her leadership in sponsorships and partnership marketing, including her time at Wells Fargo and Soccer United Marketing, has been widely recognized, earning her a spot on the inaugural Latinos in Sports’ list in 2020. She also co-owns the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League.

February 2026

Pellom McDaniels Sports History Lecture Series Presents… | Emory Campus

Join us for a powerful and timely discussion as Emory professor and historian Carl Suddler will sit down with members of Black Players for Change to explore the intersection of sports, activism, and racial justice. This public conversation will explore the role of athletes as changemakers and the ongoing fight for equity in the world of professional sports. Don’t miss this inspiring event that will bridge history, action, and the future of the game.

Footwork Exhibition Opening Event | Emory Campus | Schatten Gallery in Woodruff Library | Feb. 19, 2026

A Legacy of Love: An Evening Celebrating the Game that Unites Us

Join us for a special evening celebrating the opening of our Footwork exhibition in the Schatten Gallery of Woodruff Library.

This dynamic event will feature a heartfelt conversation with the exhibition curators as they share their perspectives on how they have preserved, nurtured, and loved this game in their own unique way—alongside powerful reflections from students on why the game, the World Cup, and sports at large bring us together.

Presented in collaboration with Kicks & Fros, the exhibition will also feature a special selection of items from the Rose Library, highlighting the deep cultural and historical significance of soccer across generations and communities.

Let’s celebrate the game that unites us — on and off the field.

Footwork Exhibition | Oxford Campus | Second Floor Gallery in Oxford Library

At Oxford, the Footwork Firsts exhibit will spotlight our college’s pioneering moments in athletics and diversity—including the stories of Anthony Gibson, Oxford’s first African American athlete, and the early women’s soccer program.

Carlos Museum Works on Paper Exhibition | Emory Campus

Footwork: Where We Gather at the Michael C. Carlos Museum celebrates Atlanta’s sports culture through the lens of photographer Sheila Pree Bright, exploring the sense of community, tradition, and belonging that sport inspires. From United tailgates to the pitch, Falcons training camp to the stands and abroad, Pree Bright turns her camera to the fans—and through them, to the teams they love.

Impact Lab World Cup Speaker Series | Oxford Campus | Feb. 18, 2026 at 6pm

Join us for the compelling story of Kellyn Gerenstein, active scouting agent for the Buffalo Bills, as he dives deep into finding your path as a student athlete after college. Kellyn Gerenstein is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University (’23) with a B.A. in Sport Industry. Kellyn has created a young career in football scouting and player personnel. With a deep passion for roster construction and player evaluation, he began his professional journey with the Ohio State football team in 2022, helping identify high school prospects and contributing to their recruitment to the Buckeyes. Upon graduating, he was hired to be the assistant director of recruiting at Boston College in August of 2023, charged with building the recruiting boards for defensive coaches of top targets of high school prospects.  

Impact Lab World Cup Speaker Series | Oxford Campus | Feb 18, 6pm

Bethany Atkinson, adidas, Sales Director and former college athlete at UK, will guide us through her career post-D1 college tennis through an MBA and love for all things sports. An avid sneakerhead, Bethany leads apparel at adidas, and will join a panel of Oxford students to talk careers as well as narrate her own contributions to Oxford’s SneakerCon.  

Impact Lab | Oxford Campus | Feb. 23, 2026

Featuring Charly Palmer, renowned Atlanta artist, in collaboration with our other Professional in Residence, will focus on pathways in Art, Physics, the Aviation industry and Athletics.  

Podcast featuring Professor Carl Suddler | Episodes available Spring 2026 

Join Emory Professor Carl Suddler as he dives into the beautiful world of soccer like never before — featuring exclusive conversations with legendary World Cup players, current stars, and special guests from across the game. From historical hidden gems to untold locker room stories, this is the podcast where passion meets expertise.

March 2026

Course with Dr. Carl Suddler and Dr. Karida Brown | Sports, Power, and Society: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | Emory Campus | Begins Spring 2026

Atlanta, one of only two U.S. cities to host both the Olympics (1996) and the World Cup (2026), is a true global sports capital. This makes Emory the ideal place to study sport as a powerful force shaping culture, cities, economies, and everyday life.

Co-taught by a sociologist and a historian, this interdisciplinary course invites students to analyze the sports world from the inside out. Using the foundational work of sociologist Harry Edwards as a springboard, we will examine how sport intersects with race, politics, fashion, urban planning, inequality, and global power. Beyond scholarly engagement, students will hear directly from high-level insiders including executives, thought leaders, and elite athletes. Through debate, analysis, and reflection, students will gain the critical tools to understand sport's role in society and its global landscape.

Creativity Conversation: Charly Palmer | Emory Campus

Join us for an intimate conversation with acclaimed artist Charly Palmer where he will reflect on his experience teaching at Emory, the creative process behind the new Footwork mural, and key moments from his celebrated career. From his studio to the classroom to the heart of campus, Charly will share his journey as an artist, educator, and storyteller — and the role art plays in movement, memories, and meaning.

SneakerCon with Kicks & Fros| Oxford Campus | Mar. 20, 2026

Additional details coming soon for this workshop and student engagement event!

Impact Lab World Cup Speaker Series | Oxford Campus | Mar. 30, 2026 at 1pm

Join us to hear from Peter Acker, former Oxford graduate turned lawyer turned CEO of Atlanta Keepers Academy. Peter’s story highlights the twists and turns typical of many careers post-college and centers patience, resilience, and a deep love for soccer.  

April 2026

SneakerCon with Kicks & Fros | Emory Campus | Apr. 14, 2026 | 1-8 pm

Additional details coming soon for this workshop and student engagement event!

Impact Lab World Cup Speaker Series | Oxford Campus

Join us as we hear from Dr. Lee Kneer, Emory Healthcare sports medicine specialist and Atlanta Braves Head sports medicine doctor, on a career filled with stories from some of Atlanta’s leading sports teams.