Emma Ariyo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Sport Management

Dr. Ariyo's scholarship and teaching focuses primarily on sport sociology and management. Her primary research interest encompass: Cultural Studies of sport, politics and sport in Africa, Black female athlete identity, and sport for development. Dr. Ariyo's...

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Emma Ariyo

Contact Information

Education & Curriculum Vitae

Ph.D., Kinesiology - Sport Management Policy, University of Georgia
MSc, Kinesiology - Sport Management Policy, University of Georgia
M.B.A, Marketing & Management, University of Bridgeport
Dip., Sport Education and Coaching, Leipzig University
B.A. Industrial and Fine Arts, Makerere University
Dr. Ariyo's scholarship and teaching focuses primarily on sport sociology and management. Her primary research interest encompass: Cultural Studies of sport, politics and sport in Africa, Black female athlete identity, and sport for development. Dr. Ariyo's teaching background stems from multiple universities across the US. She has worked in undergraduate and graduate teaching roles at the University of Georgia, Adelphi University, and Washington State University.

Manuscripts/Chapters

  • Ariyo, E. S., Stenning, K., & Turcott, R. (2024) “Sultans of the Net: News and Social Media Framing of the Turkey Women’s National Volleyball Team” Book Chapter in: A Critical Muslim Study of Arab and Middle Eastern Sport. (In-press)
  • Chepyator-Thomson, J., Adodo, M. S., K., Ariyo, E. S., & Abdulsamad Olajide Yusuf (2024). Sport in Contemporary Africa. In MacIntosh, E., Gonzalo, B., and Ming, L. (Eds.) International Sport Management, 3rd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Ariyo, E. S., & Chepyator-Thomson, J. (2023) Navigating Socio-cultural Conditions and Gaining Empowerment Through Boxing: The Case of Ugandan Women. Global South Voices on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) Book for the “Routledge Studies in Sport Development” Series. London, UK: Routledge
  • Turcott, R., & Ariyo, E. S. (2021). Disrupting the global refugee crisis or celebrity humanitarianism? Media frames of the refugee Olympic team at 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo summer games. Sport in Society, 1-16.
  • Ariyo, E. S., Faniyi, O., & Turcott, R. (2020) “Utterly Ashamed of their Behavior”: Examining the Media Coverage of Cameroon versus England in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In Yanity, M & Coombs, D. (Eds.). 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup: Media, Fandom, and Soccer's Biggest Stage. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature
  • Chepyator-Thomson, J., Adodo, M. S., K. & Ariyo, E. S. (2019). Sport in Contemporary Africa. In MacIntosh, E., Gonzalo, B., and Ming, L. (Eds.) International Sport Management, 2nd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Chepyator-Thomson, J., & Ariyo, E. S. (2017). Out of East Africa: Examination of Sport Labor Migration and Impact of Global Politics in the Post-Independent Era. International Journal of the History of Sport, 33(15), 1826-1846.

Peer-Reviewed Book Reviews

  • Ariyo, E.S., (2019). Great expectations: The sociology of survival and success in organized teamsports. (Book Review) New York, NY: Routledge. Doob, C., B. Journal of Sport Management.
  • Ariyo, E.S., (2016). What difference does dance make? Critical conversations across dance, physical activity, and public health. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 8(4), 681- 693.

Professional Papers or Posters Presented

National & International

  • Ariyo, E.S. (2023) “You do not belong here!!! You will bring misfortune to our team”: The [de]construction of social identities and cultural appropriateness of African Female Sport Journalists. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference, November 1 – 4, 2023, New Orleans, LA.
  • Ariyo, E. S., Faniyi, O., & Turcott, R. (2020) “Utterly Ashamed of their Behavior”: Examining the Media Coverage of Cameroon versus England in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Global Status of Women and Girls Conference, March 16-18, 2023, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA.
  • Turcott, R., & Ariyo, E. S. (2021). “The world is moved by the Refugee Olympic Team and unmoved by refugees”: Media Framing of the 2016 and 2020 Refugee Olympic Teams. International Conference on Hate Studies, Spokane, WA, November 4-6, 2021.
  • Ariyo, E. S., & Chepyator-Thomson, J. (2018). Empowering Women Through the Sport of Boxing in Uganda. Presented at Global Status of Women and Girls Conference, March 23-25, 2018, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA.
  • Ariyo, E. S., & Chepyator-Thomson, J. (2016). Career Experiences of African Women in sport leadership: A focus on Major Sport Organizations. Presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Annual Conference, November 2-5, 2016, Tampa, Florida.
  • Ariyo, E. S., & Chepyator-Thomson, J. (2016). Examination of Post-Independent Africa through Political and Sport Lenses: Historical Perspectives. Presented at Forty-Fourth Annual Convention of the North American Society for Sport History, May 28-30, 2016, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
  • Turcott, R. J., Chepyator-Thomson, J. & Ariyo, E. S. (2016). Basketball-based Sport for Development Organizations in Global South. Presented at the University of Maryland Physical and Cultural Studies Conference, March 4th, 2016, College Park, Maryland, United States.
  • Ariyo, E. S., Chepyator-Thomson, J. (2015). Examination of Boxing in Colonial and Post-Colonial Uganda. Presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Annual Conference, November 6-9, 2015, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States.
  • Turcott, R. J., Chepyator-Thomson, J. & Ariyo, E. S. (2015). Exploration of Migration Patterns by Tennis Players in NCAA Div. I & II. Presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Annual Conference, November 6-9, 2015, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States.
  • Turcott, R. J., Chepyator-Thomson, J. & Ariyo, E. S. (2015). Exclusionary tactics and obstacles of entry for NCAA international student athletes. Presented at the International Sport Sociological Association Annual Conference, June 9-12, 2015, Paris, France.
  • Ariyo, E. S., Chepyator-Thomson, J. & Byron, K. (2014). Motor Car Racing in East Africa: Role and Impact of Safari Rally on Community Development. Presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Annual Conference, November 6-9, 2014, Portland, Oregon, United States.
  • Ariyo, E. S., (2014). Sport Policy and Development in Uganda. Poster presented at The Global Educational Forum on Culture, Research and Teaching, Athens, GA.

Grants Funded

  • Ariyo, E. S. (2024). Gonzaga University International Education Council – 2023-2024 Global Engagement Faculty Development Award. Amount funded - $3,500.
  • Ariyo, E. S. (2022). Washington State University – College of Education 2022-2023 Faculty Research Funding Awards. Amount funded - $4,800
  • Ariyo, E. S. (2016). The University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology Mary Ella Soule Annual Academic Scholarship Award.

Research Interests

Major Interests

  • Cultural Studies of sport
  • Black female athlete identity and sporting experiences

Minor Interests

  • Sport for development and social change
  • Politics and Globalization in sport