As a student-athlete at CC, Melanie Auguste ’09 was an All-American basketball player, setting record after record and earning the National Player of the Year Jostens Award in her senior year. After graduation, Auguste, an Economics major, began to climb the corporate ladder at Nike – a perfect fit for the woman whose dorm rooms at CC always featured a raised bed to accommodate her ever-growing collection of Nike sneakers. Last year, she became Nike’s Global VP & GM of Women’s Sports.
“I structure my approach to work a lot like the Block Plan,” Auguste says. “I do deep dives with my team or identify specific projects that will be the focus for the week. Approaching our projects in this way enables us to analyze opportunities, research possibilities, and build strategies faster and more efficiently than if we let it draw out over short meetings week over week.”
Auguste has now taken her experience and returned to campus this month to teach the Half Block course, The Economics of Women’s Sports. The topic is perfectly timed with the growing popularity of women’s sports in the United States and the increased conversation around pay equity and marketability of women athletes.
“I wanted to bring this class to CC because it is a perfect environment to explore a subject that is evolving so fast,” says Auguste. “The style of learning here mixed with the critical thinking skills of the students creates intellectual, honest exploration and discussion. In addition, I think it is important to start creating bridges between the realities of the business world and the theories of the classroom. By being in a classroom again, I am testing my assumptions and practices while also pushing students to put their knowledge into situations that may not have a perfect answer.”
“It’s very unique that we are also able to get accurate insider information about the sports industry through the lens of Nike, all while discussing why women’s sports are growing faster than any other men’s sports and the reasons behind that. I am going to take lots of good information from this Half Block that will help me pursue my career in sports marketing and advertising.”
Ryan Brush ’26
Auguste’s students definitely appreciate the opportunity allowed by this unique type of exploration.
“I really enjoy how Mel is able to tie in real-world economic information with the growth of women’s sports in recent years,” says Ryan Brush ’26. “It’s very unique that we are also able to get accurate insider information about the sports industry through the lens of Nike, all while discussing why women’s sports are growing faster than any other men’s sports and the reasons behind that. I am going to take lots of good information from this Half Block that will help me pursue my career in sports marketing and advertising.”
Auguste’s class is structured as a conversation between her and her students, looking at all sides of economic issues and marketing decisions in the world of women’s sports. A lot of this content is at the center of current heated cultural and economic debates, a fact Auguste addresses with her students during “The Pay Conversation.”
“This conversation is loaded. When you see someone doing the same thing as you, you feel like you should get the same outcome. That’s natural. That’s why this is such an emotional conversation,” Auguste tells her class. “In order to impact and move things forward, we have to have an in-depth understanding of all sides.”
Auguste works with the students to contextualize the present, guiding them through the history of growth in particular markets and looking at how this could play out in the future specifically for women’s sports. “In my role, I have to make decisions today that fit tomorrow,” she says.
“She’s not only well-versed in her field but also incredibly approachable, making the class a rare and lucky experience. We’re all very fortunate to have the chance to connect with such a powerful professional and gain real-world insights into an industry we hope to join.”
Andie Will ’26
The students in The Economics of Women’s Sports recognize how significant this class is in the current culture conversation and their futures in the world of marketing.
“I have really enjoyed this class and have found it incredibly valuable as I begin to explore potential careers in the sports industry and the business world as a whole,” says Avery Johnson ’26. “Mel has been a great professor. I love her use of the Socratic method and a more informal, business-oriented approach to navigating the classroom. She treats our class like she would any team at Nike, encouraging us to become proactive learners by welcoming any and all questions.”
“What stands out most about Mel is her humility despite her impressive achievements,” says Andie Will ’26. “She’s not only well-versed in her field but also incredibly approachable, making the class a rare and lucky experience. We’re all very fortunate to have the chance to connect with such a powerful professional and gain real-world insights into an industry we hope to join.”
One of the most unique aspects of Auguste’s Half Block is the opportunity CC students have to learn directly from a highly successful executive leader in the sports world. She has also brought in several guest speakers to expand the knowledgebase and perspective of the course.
“Having the chance to hear from incredibly accomplished women in the industry has been a highlight,” says Will. “We had two of Nike’s brand managers visit in person to share insights into their roles, including how they strategize, make decisions, and build athletes’ brands. Hearing their perspectives, especially as they work with some of my favorite WNBA and college stars, was both inspiring and extremely valuable.”
Auguste points out that it’s not just the students who find this class particularly special.
“Coming back to Palmer as a professor is a special full-circle moment for me. I have so many incredible memories of classes I took here,” says Auguste. “The gratitude for the professors that invested in me has only grown now that I have gotten to sit in their shoes for a few weeks. Teaching students is a great responsibility, and I feel like I understand a little bit more how much they put into everyone that goes through these halls. I am happy I get a chance to be part of it.”