Sports junkie that she was growing up in Chicagoland, Emily Jaenson arrived at Illinois intent on landing a career in the industry.
But it didn’t go exactly how the woman who'd go on to become the highest-ranking female in minor league baseball drew it up.
“I headed off to Illinois knowing I wanted to work in sports but not exactly sure how I would get there, so I selected what seemed obvious to me — physical therapy.
“Despite strengths in English studies and lacking in math and science, I thought this would be the path. A few months into school, after departing 415 Scott Hall too many times feeling lost, I dropped some classes and entered into what felt like no man’s land.
“That’s when I signed up for Advertising 101 and met Steve Hall. Finally, a subject I was interested in studying that I could connect to my goal to work in sports,” says Jaenson (BS ’05, advertising), who from 2018-22 served as general manager of the Reno Aces, the only woman with that title in all of Triple-A baseball.
“Sophomore year, I had the chance to apply to the then-College of Communications. I vividly remember walking into Greg Hall, up the granite steps, in my flip flops, to turn in my application. What a life-changing moment.
“I went on to straight As, being involved, getting to know my professors, TAs and classmates, and senior year serving as co-president of the AAF competition. Illinois defined my studies and set the direction for the rest of my career.
“I-L-L!”
