Celebrating a 30-year tenure at St. Thomas University, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends all came together for several special events to honor Dr. Jan Bell who retired at the end of this academic year as professor of Sports Administration.
The celebration began on November 2 when Bell became the 10th inductee into the Bobcat Sports Hall of Fame at the sixth annual Stone Crab Dinner for Athletics. A sold-out crowd of over 600 attendees came out to the event and dozens of Sports Administration alumni submitted video messages to Bell.
On March 20, the Miami Heat hosted a suite at the American Airlines Arena during the Heat-Nuggets game to toast Bell and thank her for her impact on the three-time NBA Championship organization. Nine alumni who studied under Dr. Bell currently work full-time for the Heat, including senior vice president/general manager Andy Elisburg.
The celebration continued on May 22, as over 125 guests joined Bell for a retirement party at Marlins Park as the Baltimore Orioles took on the Miami Marlins. Surrounded by the 12 STU Spo-Ad alumni currently working for the Marlins, Bell threw out the game's ceremonial first pitch, then was able to enjoy the matchup between her two favorite MLB teams with alumni spanning her 30 years.
Other accolades this year include Bell being honored as one of South Florida’s Most Influential Women as part of Miami Dade Parks and Recreation’s 27th annual In the Company of Women Awards Ceremony as part of Women’s History Month.
Post-retirement, Bell will continue to have a presence on the STU campus as she will continue her duties as the NAIA Faculty Athletic Representative for the Department of Athletics.
In recognition of Bell’s enduring impact on STU, the University has established the Dr. Jan Bell Sports Administration Scholarship Fund. The endowed fund will provide scholarship monies to deserving Sports Administration students.