Brian P. McCullough

Biography

Dr. Brian P. McCullough is an Associate Professor in the Sport Business Leadership program in the Albers School of Business and Economics. He joined the faculty at Seattle University in 2014. Before arriving at Seattle University, Dr. McCullough was a faculty member at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Brian has taught classes in sport leadership, sustainability in sport business, sport business ethics, sustainable marketing through sport, and sport governance, among others.

Brian teaches students and serves the sport industry to more deeply understand sport spectator environmental behaviors and attitudes; design their environmental messaging and narrative for internal and external stakeholders; increase fan engagement with a sport organization’s sustainability initiatives. This focus earned him an invitation from the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Secretariat to participate in meetings to create the Sport for Climate Change Framework. All signatories of this framework acknowledge the sport sector’s responsibility to address the causes of climate change and pledge to use their social reach and influence to promote sustainable behaviors to their fans, spectators and/or participants. Additionally, Dr. McCullough was recently awarded a grant from the International Olympic Committee to examine citizen perceptions of environmental sustainability initiatives surrounding the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

His research interests focusing on environmental sustainability within the sport industry has resulted in over 30 books, book chapters, and articles in academic journals such as the Sport Management Review, Journal of Sport Management, Sport & Communication, International Journal of Sport Management & Marketing, and Quest. Additionally, he has presented his research over 60 times to practitioner and academic audiences. He has also served as a consultant for environmental organizations such as Protect Our Winters, Keep America Beautiful, Green Sports Alliance, University of Louisiana Lafayette – Sustainability Office and sport entities such as Cherry Blossom Run, USA Special Olympic Summer Games, and the University of Washington’s Athletic Department.

Brian earned his Ph.D. and master’s degree in Sport Management from Texas A&M University in College Station and his Bachelor’s in Sport Management from Ithaca College in upstate New York. He has worked in the non-profit sector in San Francisco and college athletic fundraising for the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M University.

Education

Ph.D., Texas A&M University, USA, 2011
M.S., Texas A&M University, USA, 2007
B.S., Ithaca College, USA, 2005

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Environmental sustainability; sport ecology; sport management; organizational behavior; fan engagement campaigns; sustainable behavioral change

Websites

• Sport Ecology Group

Books