Robert Derda, M.S.

Associate Professor and Chair of Sports, Arts, Entertainment & Music Business

Contact Information

• Office: 1110 West Penn Hall
• Phone: 412-392-6157
• Fax: 412-392-8048
• Email: rderda@pointpark.edu

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, Duquesne University
• Master of Science, Leadership concentrating in Sports Leadership, Duquesne University

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Sports, Arts and Entertainment
• Career Prep
• Personal Branding and Business Development
• Sports Leadership
• Principles of Marketing

Background

Robert Derda, M.S., assistant professor and chair of the Department of Sports, Arts, Entertainment & Music Business in the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University, brings 12 years of teaching experience and more than 25 years in professional sports experience to his position. His teaching includes graduate and undergraduate as well as guest speaking in the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University, the A.J. Palumbo School of Business at Duquesne and the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration.

Derda's professional background includes full-time work and consultant roles most recently as general manager at Learfield Sports, as well as previously with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Duquesne University athletics, the National Basketball Association, the Women's National Basketball Association, Clear Channel Communications, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, International Sports Marketing and others. Additionally, he has been invited to present at the National Sports Forum and other conferences and events on sales and career development topics.

 

Professor Derda Featured in Sports Business Camp Video

Point Park's Sports Business Camp, offered to high school students in the summer, provides three days of learning about exciting careers working for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins, Steelers, Riverhounds and more. In the video below, Professor Derda shares what makes Sports Business Camp an exciting opportunity for aspiring sports professionals. Learn more about Pre-College and Summer Programs at Point Park.

Recent Presentations

• "Life Skills and Career Development," City Charter High School, Feb. 8, 2018.

Professional Memberships

• Board member, Chuck Cooper Foundation
• Steering committee former member, National Sports Forum

In the News

• "Who is John Henry? Get to know the man behind Penguins' prospective new ownership group," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 19, 2021. 

• "Kicking It Up a Notch: With financials improving, playoff-bound Riverhounds looks to raise its local profile," Pittsburgh Business Times, Oct. 17, 2019.

Point Park Features

• "Get Career-Ready with: Daniel Salas '25, Sports, Arts, Entertainment & Music Business Major and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Partnership Activations Coordinator," Point Park University website, Oct. 30, 2024. 
• "Sports Business Camp Goes Behind the Scenes of Working for the Steel City's Beloved Teams," Point Park University website, July 16, 2024.
• "Pioneer Careers: Lydia Grimenstein '20 is the Senior Manager of Donor Engagement for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra," Point Park University website, June 27, 2024.
• "Get Career-Ready with: Jared Topping '24, Marketing and Sales Major," Point Park University website, April 10, 2024.
• "Students Make Industry Connections at 2024 TeamWork Online Sports Sales Workshop and Job Fair," Point Park University website, March 8, 2024.
• "Alumnus Carlos Polanco is a Baseball Operations Analyst for the Cincinnati Reds," Point Park University website, Feb. 27, 2024.
• "Student Q&A: Inaugural SAEM Pittsburgh Penguins Events Team Reflects on Semester of Hands-On Experience," Point Park University website, May 12, 2023. 
• "Point Park University's SAEM Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary," Point Park University website, April 14, 2023.
• "SAEM Sports Sales Course, Teams Prepare Students for Success," Point Park University website, Dec. 19, 2022.
• "SAEM Major Lacey Muto '24 is a Creative Services Intern at KDKA," Point Park University website, Dec. 2, 2022. 
•  "SAEM Alumnus Travis Johnston '15 Lands Role with the NCAA," Point Park University website, June 3, 2022.
•  "SAEM Alumnus Matthew Uzar '20 is the Events Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Penguins," Point Park University website, April 7, 2022. 
• "SAEM Alumnus Greg Fedor '21 Lands Job with the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association After Successful Internship," Point Park University website, Jan. 31, 2022. 
• "Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business Launches the Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Center for Equity and Education," Point Park University website, Sept. 14, 2021.
• "SAEM Student Kyle Anderson Interns for the Erie Otters Hockey Club," Point Park University website, Aug. 10, 2021.
• "SAEM Alumnus John Blattenberger Works for the Pittsburgh Steelers," July 21, 2021.
• "SAEM Students Place Third in National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship," March 31, 2021.
• "SAEM Virtual Sports Internship Bridges the Real-World Learning Gap During Pandemic," Point Park University website, Dec. 17, 2020.
• "Spotlight on the Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management Major: A Q&A with SAEM Faculty," Point Park University website, June 3, 2020.
• "Point Park Recognized as a Top University for Professional Sales Education," Point Park University website, April 16, 2020.
• "SAEM Program Invites High School Students to Explore Theatre Arts Management Careers," Point Park University website, Dec. 19, 2019.
• "Major League Baseball Players Don Kelly ’06 and Neil Walker Chat With SAEM Sports Agents Class," Point Park University website, Nov. 25, 2019.
• "Rowland School of Business Faculty Invited to NBA Hall of Fame Ceremony," Point Park University website, Sept. 10, 2019.
• "Pittsburgh Pirates Invite SAEM Students to Join Bucs Sales Team, Provide Training at PNC Park," Point Park University website, Sept. 5, 2019.
• "Students boost ticket sales for the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Cleveland Cavaliers," The Point, Spring 2019 issue.
• "Emerging Trends in Sports Seminar Focuses on Esports and Mobile Ticketing, Features Cleveland Cavaliers CEO," Point Park University website, April 2, 2019.
• "Selling Tickets for the Cavs: SAEM Students Join Cleveland Cavaliers Sales Team," Point Park University website, March 12, 2019.
• "Pioneer Records Names Allissa Logsdon as its Newest Recording Artist," Point Park University website, Oct. 23, 2018.
• "Sports Industry Seminar Allows Students to Network and Learn From Professionals in the Field," Point Park University website, April 4, 2018.
• "YWCA's Chaz Kellem Inspires Students to Cultivate a Culture of DIversity & Inclusion," Point Park University website, Jan. 18, 2018.