Brooklyn Bellavia '26

Brooklyn Bellavia, a sport and recreation management major from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., is seamlessly blending her love of sports with her talent in graphic design through her internship with the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

As the social media manager and marketing coordinator for NYCBL, Brooklyn is responsible for creating and managing the league’s social media content, a role that allows her to merge her creative skills with her passion for sports.

Bellavia’s love of sports and graphic design began early in life. Throughout grade school and high school, she played almost every sport she could, mainly focusing on volleyball, basketball, and softball. 

“I first started playing sports when I was 3 years old,” she said, and “I’ve played almost every sport you could think of.” She now plays on the volleyball and swim teams at Pitt-Bradford.

It was also in high school that Bellavia found her passion for graphic design. She loved classes where she could create movies and other media-related projects that allowed her to express her creativity. This passion was further solidified when she took a digital graphic design course at Pitt-Bradford.

Inspired by these passions, Bellavia pursued an internship that aligned with her creative and athletic skills. In her role with the NYCBL, she designs graphics for social media, highlights player achievements, and captures the essence of live games through photography. Her creativity shines as she produces engaging content that resonates with the league's audience.

Bellavia credits her growth and development to the supportive environment at Pitt-Bradford, particularly Dr. Jodi Burns, former assistant professor of sport and recreation management. Dr. Burns’ engaging teaching style and enthusiastic support allowed Bellavia to apply her experiences and interests to her coursework and her internship at NYCBL.

“I love her,” Bellavia said, explaining how Dr. Burns was always very supportive of her and her ambitions and how she was always there to help. “She was like my campus mom.”

Through her internship, Brooklyn has gained valuable skills in communication, time management, and social media strategy. She enjoys the dynamic nature of her role, especially the opportunities to network and interact with professionals in the sports industry. Her experiences have reinforced her desire to pursue a career that combines her love for sports with her creative talents.

Looking ahead, Brooklyn aims to work in a role that allows her to utilize both her graphic design skills and her passion for sports. She envisions working for a major sports organization, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, where she can continue to create impactful content and contribute to the team's success. She’s also considering opportunities in event management and hospitality within the sports industry.