Lander University senior sport management major Amani Melendez is not afraid to embrace new challenges.
Just before the start of the Fall 2025 semester, Melendez (who is expected to graduate in May of 2026) was in search of a unique learning experience that would broaden her scope beyond sports and sport management. When she received an email about Lander’s new job shadowing program with Eaton Corporation, the former Lander basketball player took her shot for an opportunity to work inside Eaton’s facilities in Greenwood, S.C., and become the inaugural participant in the program.
As a sport management student, Melendez admitted that “manufacturing was kind of outside of my comfort zone,” she said, “but the program was a really exciting opportunity, and I had a great three months working at Eaton.”
Upon her arrival at Eaton, Melendez said there was certainly a learning curve. She had to learn new terminology (which included memorizing a lot of acronyms), while also gaining experience using general hand tools, helping track units and monitoring production progress. Yet, what she learned along the way is that the courses she’s taking at Lander - including classes in the principles of management, operations management, professional communication and advanced analytical methods - have a practical application in the workforce.
And, when asked about her most valuable takeaway from the experience, Melendez answered that it was the opportunity to learn about managing both production, as well as people.
“I think this is a really good experience for anyone studying management, regardless of what field they want to go into,” said Melendez, adding that her time at Eaton gave her “the hands-on experience with managing people while also managing projects at the same time.” She noted that while assessing the various moving parts was an essential part of her job, so too was checking in on the people who made those parts move.
Dr. Lloyd Willis, dean of the College of Business and Technology, said that Melendez’s experience at Eaton is further evidence of the quality of a Lander business education. All Lander business students, according to Willis, cultivate a broad base of expertise and study core business subjects that prepare them for a wide variety of career paths, regardless of their specific specializations in sport management, hospitality management, or any other concentration area that Lander offers.
“When employers look at hiring college graduates, it’s because they want someone who is knowledgeable, well-rounded and who can adapt to new environments,” Willis said. “When those employers hire a Lander graduate, that’s exactly what they’ll get: a student like Amani, who now has experience, not just in sport management, but also within a robust manufacturing facility like Eaton’s.”