Donovan Carter

Five years ago, Donovan Carter had a newborn daughter but did not know how he would provide economic stability for her. It was his turning point, pushing him to pursue a college degree. Now 34 years old, Donovan will receive a Bachelor of Business Administration as his daughter, Lydia-Rei, watches.

Donovan also was tired of working what he describes as horrible jobs where the pay did not match his specialized skills. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Donovan served six years providing immunizations, dermatology care and physical therapy to military personnel. He was stationed in Japan, San Diego and North Carolina.

After getting out, Donovan said, he was determined to secure the career he never started right after high school. He registered at FIU’s College of Business, combining his interest in e-commerce and sports marketing with the latest technology.

Donovan credits two FIU Business professors with guiding him on the right path. Nancy Richmond helped Donovan be career-ready by his junior year by taking on freelance clients and monetizing his talent. Christopher Allen helped Donovan get an internship at Impact Sports Management, where he worked on YouTube marketing campaigns and developed social media graphics for agency clients.

Today, Donovan continues to work independently but he has set a clear goal: to work in an e-commerce or marketing department for a sports franchise. It is a prime venue, he notes, to explore a new interpretation of the latest trends in sports marketing, including esports. 

By Cynthia Corzo, Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications
College of Business