Alumnus’ Winning Partnerships Lead Him to the Stanley Cup
Sean Kelty began his Kent State journey while also serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He enlisted to pay for his education, and in 2018, he was deployed to Kuwait. With the support of Kent State professor Brian Yim, Ph.D., Sean was able to continue his studies online. While he was at the university, he also supported game-day operations for Kent State Basketball and interned at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) through Peak Sports MGMT. During this internship, he discovered his passion for sponsorship execution and activation. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport administration, Sean was hired at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) as the partnership services coordinator, where he worked on corporate sponsorships for BGSU Athletics. In 2025, his former NCCU manager approached him about a position with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he now serves as an account manager in the team’s corporate partnerships department. He facilitates accounts ranging from local shops and breweries to big name brands like Lenovo, Pepsi, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Fanatics. In June, the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, marking the team’s second championship in franchise history and their first in 20 years. As part of the team, Sean will receive his championship ring soon. It will be his second ring in two years as he and his wife, Eva, ’20, were married in June 2025.
KSU: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
SK: Michigan beating Ohio State and Kent beating Akron. Just kidding... mostly. My idea of perfect happiness would be to achieve what I deem as success and get to see my wife, friends and family achieve what they deem as success as well.
KSU: What is your favorite trait in others?
SK: Like myself, I like someone who can laugh and joke around but can get serious when the time comes.
KSU: What trait about yourself do you like least?
SK: I am, and always have been, a procrastinator.
KSU: Who had the greatest influence on your life?
SK: My mom. She unfortunately passed away when I was young, but everything I have done in my life and continue to do in my life is to make her proud.
KSU: What is your favorite Kent State memory?
SK: I have so many great memories from my time at Kent, most of them I can't go into detail about here... All I can say is that I enjoyed making all those memories with my lifelong friends, who were all my groomsmen in my wedding, as well as meeting my now wife, Eva.
KSU: What is your favorite journey?
SK: My favorite journey has been my journey through sports. I have worked with Kent State Athletics, had an internship at North Carolina Central, worked for Bowling Green's sponsorship department, and now I am here with the Carolina Hurricanes. Along the way, I have been able to attend multiple games across several sports and many different venues. One of my favorite things to do is experience sporting events at as many venues as I can.
KSU: What is your guilty pleasure?
SK: Handel's Ice Cream, specifically cake batter flavor.
KSU: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
SK: Graduating basic training with the Air Force, and all the promotions and journeys that came along with my six years in the service. Also... I'm a Stanley Cup Champion!!
KSU: If you could come back as one person, who would it be and why?
SK: I'm not really sure. Maybe I would come back as myself and do a few things differently.
KSU: What part of your college experience most formed who you are today?
SK: My friendships. I would not and could not achieve what I have achieved in my life and career without the endless support of my friends and wife.
