Mark LaSota, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Kinesiology and Sport Management Department at Texas A&M University. Dr. LaSota Joined the KNSM faculty in 2022. His research interests are sport leadership, organizational culture, mentoring, and international business. He is a Forbes Contributor and writes about leadership topics related to sports and business.

Dr. LaSota brings extensive experience in higher education along with the sports and fitness industries. As an educator, he has dedicated nearly two decades of his career teaching and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds in a variety of faculty positions at public and private universities, community colleges, and proprietary schools. Prior to arriving in College Station, he spent two years as an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Sport Leadership and Recreation at Emporia State University. Among his duties and accomplishments, he worked closely with the athletic department as an academic advisor for several student-athletes, ran the internship and practicum programs, served on the faculty senate, formed strategic partnerships with local and regional businesses and institutions, and developed relationships with professional sports organizations, such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. While serving as a Lecturer for the Kinesiology Department at San Francisco State University, Dr. LaSota founded and directed Gator Start Camp, which is a holistic program designed to teach life skills, leadership lessons, and healthy choices to young people. Some other institutions he has taught for either in a traditional onsite, online, or hybrid capacity include The University of New Mexico, Florida International University, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Stanislaus State University, Fresno Pacific University, and Fresno State University.

As an industry professional, Dr. LaSota has filled various roles for companies and organizations. Some of these roles include sport manager, coach, scout, recreational facility supervisor, sport camp director, fitness manager, and personal trainer. Prior to his work in the classroom, he spent several years coaching multiple sports at the Division I, community college, high school, and junior high levels. As an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for Grossmont College, he was tasked with a number of responsibilities, including scouting, recruiting, and coordinating team travel. At The University of New Mexico, he was appointed to the Athletic Council for three years and served as a liaison for the football and men’s soccer teams. While in Albuquerque, he assisted with the New Mexico Bowl game for four years in hospitality and operations. He has worked for and with the NFL in areas of marketing, events, and operations. One of his most memorable professional experiences was working crowd management and public relations for Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, CA.

Dr. LaSota is a published author, motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, and has provided leadership and performance consulting to companies and sport organizations. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical Education, Sports, and Exercise Science with a concentration in sport administration from The University of New Mexico. For his doctoral dissertation, he worked in collaboration with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and interviewed several inductees exploring the role of mentorship in their career success. He has two master’s degrees – an MBA in International Business from New Mexico Highlands University and a master’s in kinesiology with a concentration in sport psychology from Fresno State University. His bachelor’s is in exercise science from Ball State University. He was a walk-on football player at Ball State.

One of his greatest passions is providing global transformative experiences for our students through education abroad programs. As a graduate student, he participated in study abroad programs to Argentina and Mexico. Currently, Dr. LaSota is a member of the CEHD Global Education Committee and serves as chair of our KNSM International Education Committee. As a faculty member here at Texas A&M, he created, designed, and led an international sport leadership program to Bolivia in May 2024. He was also one of the trip leaders for our sport management program to Japan in May 2023 and sport business program to Costa Rica during winter 2024/25. In March 2025, he co-led a sport, history, and culture field trip to the United Kingdom.