Visiting Associate Professor of Practice
Dr. Micah Natale, Ed.D., M.S.S., is an accomplished sport management educator and academic leader, recently appointed as Visiting Associate Professor of Practice and Director of the Sport Leadership and Strategy Program at Berry College. After an impactful tenure as Co-Founder and CEO of SolarX Global LLC — where he built strategic partnerships, drove exceptional sales growth and founded a top-tier training academy — Dr. Natale shifts his focus back to pursue his passion for shaping future sport leaders in higher education.
With over a decade of experience teaching and leading in collegiate settings, Dr. Natale brings an innovative, values-driven approach to Berry College's program. He previously served as chairperson, dean and faculty member at several institutions, where he led accreditation efforts, designed engaging curricula and fostered interdisciplinary collaborations. His leadership propelled sport management programs to national recognition and consistently improved enrollment, retention and student outcomes.
Dr. Natale’s expertise includes curriculum development, experiential learning, strategic planning and online education. He is a published author, textbook editor, frequent conference presenter and has guided students and faculty at all levels. He is committed to academic excellence, practical industry integration and mentorship.
Excited to champion the next generation of sport professionals, Dr. Natale is dedicated to delivering innovative learning experiences and further enhancing Berry’s reputation in sport leadership and strategy.
Education
- Doctor of Education, Sport Management with Emphasis in Leadership, U.S. Sports Academy
- Master of Science, Sport Management, U.S. Sports Academy
- Bachelor of Science, Toccoa Falls College
Teaching Interests
- Leadership theory and practice in sports organizations
- Strategic planning and decision-making in the sport industry
- Governance, policy, and compliance in sport management
- Innovation and change leadership in sports settings
Research Interests
- Leadership development in sport management
- Program accreditation and quality standards in sport education
- Experiential learning and its impact on sport leadership skills
- Strategic partnerships between higher education and the sports industry
- Curriculum innovation in sport management programs
Field Experience
- Co-founded and served as CEO, expanding a company’s presence to 26 states through strategic partnerships and driving customer acquisition
- Built and mentored a high-performing sales team of 22 members, consistently exceeding key performance indicators
- Developed asynchronous learning modules in alignment with institutional outcomes and accreditation requirements
- Launched a comprehensive faculty training program in online pedagogy, achieving high instructor participation rates
- Chaired and coordinated sport management academic programs, overseeing significant enrollment growth and curriculum development
- Led COSMA accreditation efforts for undergraduate and graduate sport management programs
- Organized and participated in interdisciplinary academic committees, enhancing program collaboration and effectiveness
- Facilitated hands-on, industry-based learning experiences for students through partnerships with sport industry professionals
- Organized and led student groups to the Super Bowl, providing real-world exposure to the management of global sporting events
- Coordinated student experiential learning trips to major sporting venues and championship events, enriching classroom theory with live industry experience
Selected Publications
Books
- Textbook edit review for Routledge Publishing for the development of a new edition for Practical Sports Coaching, 2017
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Article submitted for publication - The Transcendence of Winning and its Impact on Focus, Pressure, and Enjoyment; Journal for Amateur Sports, 2020
- The Social Impact of Professional Sport Subsidies: A Quantitative Approach to a Regional Concern. Dissertation published with ProQuest, 2020
- Senior Editor for manuscript submission for the EJLT entitled "Policy by judicialization: the institutional framework for intermediary liability in Brazil" Submission, 2020
Exhibitions, Creative Works & Performances
- Article Submitted for Publication 2024 Journal of Amateur Sport - Is Winning Everything and its Impact on Focus, Pressure, and Enjoyment
- Published Article Contributor for 2021 March Madness - Best and Worst Cities for College Basketball Fans, 2021
- Published Article Contributor for 2021 NBA Finals - Best and Worst Cities for Basketball Fans, 2021
- Published Article Contributor for 2020 March Madness Stats and Facts, 2020
- Natale, M., (2019). Exercising Intentionality in Dissertation Topic Selection, The Sport Digest, 2019