What happens when a premier university teams up with a powerhouse NFL franchise? You get a partnership that rewrites the playbook on student access, community impact, and real-world learning.
In September 2023, Loyola Marymount University launched a groundbreaking partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the Rams’ exclusive higher education partner — the first collaboration of its kind between a professional sports team and a university.
LMU’s partnership with the Rams has already sparked meaningful momentum, broadening the university’s reach locally and globally while unlocking exclusive opportunities for students, faculty, and the community.
To date, more than 1,300 LMU students have actively participated in programming, including in-class guest speakers, career panels, internships and mentorships, and immersion programs, involving all seven of LMU’s schools and colleges in the Rams partnership, enriching student experiences across disciplines.
As the partnership continues to develop, its impact is already visible across campus and beyond. The following highlights not only showcase the breadth of opportunities created through the university’s partnership with the Rams but also set the stage for the stories that follow—examples of how education and professional sports together are redefining engagement, innovation, and impact.
The Academic Impact of the Partnership
As the LMU and Rams partnership expands, students and faculty gain new ways to collaborate, learn, and lead, enriching academic life at LMU and building lasting connections.
Since the launch of the partnership, Rams executives have made regular appearances on the bluff, averaging three visits per month. Students have also benefited from the partnership by having exclusive access to over 70 opportunities, ranging from guest speakers, panels and more, gaining valuable insights from Rams and SoFi Stadium executives about leadership, innovation, and the business of sports entertainment.
LMU Dance and Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders Build Community
LMU Dance welcomed Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders Lily L., Eswinn D., and Miranda K. to campus in September 2025 for a spirited discussion that gave students a glimpse of what life is like in the Rams family.
LMU Dance Chair Taryn Vander Hoop facilitated a panel Q&A, which delved into topics including the dancers’ wide range of backgrounds, their two-week audition process, methods of training and conditioning, injury prevention, their practice and game day schedule, and finding balance in the pursuit of career goals.
“Our partnership with the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders reflects a common commitment to nurturing leaders in dance grounded in kindness and inclusive practice,” Vander Hoop said.
LMU Graduate Students Gain Exclusive Access to SoFi Stadium and Rams Executives
LMU’s Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management (MELM) and School of Film and Television (SFTV) graduate students participated in an exclusive academic immersion at SoFi Stadium. Held in iconic behind-the-scenes spaces—including the Rams’ Locker Room, Owners Suite, and Control Room—students engaged directly with top industry leaders from the NFL, Rams Studios, Hollywood Park and SoFi Stadium.
Speaker sessions covered topics such as event production, music and celebrity management, and brand partnerships. With SFTV students supporting multimedia documentation of the experience, the day highlighted LMU’s interdisciplinary approach to career preparation, providing rare access, real-world insight, and direct engagement with professionals shaping the future of sports and entertainment.
A Deep Dive Into Sports Economics
LMU economics instructor Shirin Mollah and her sports economics students were given an inside look at the operations of the Los Angeles Rams during a two-day immersion featuring panel discussions, tours, and networking opportunities at SoFi Stadium and the Rams Business Headquarters in Agoura Hills, California.
Exploring topics such as the salary cap, revenue generation from ticket sales and merchandise, and economic considerations in marketing, students saw firsthand how an economics degree or minor could open a world of possibilities in professional sports, including the NFL.
Francisco Lacombe Franca ’25, an economics major who participated in the immersion trip said, “This partnership fuels a feeling of positivity in being an LMU student by being more connected through the Rams to the wider Los Angeles and Inglewood communities. The exposure I got by presenting the project in front of SoFi and Rams executives was invaluable and a core part of my experience.”
Empowering Futures Through Mentorship and Experience
Since the partnership’s launch, the Rams have provided 162 LMU students with invaluable real-world experience through various internships and mentorships.
The LMU + Rams Mentorship Program offers students a unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with professionals at the forefront of sports and entertainment. This year, 56 LMU student mentees and 44 Rams staff and executives are participating in the program.
Students engage in regular one-on-one meetings with their mentors throughout the semester, receiving personalized guidance and real-world insight across a range of fields, including marketing, media, partnerships, operations, law, government affairs, and live event production.
“LMU is a perfect fit given our shared commitment in bringing real-life experience to current students and developing the next generation of civically engaged leaders,” said Rams’ Director of Government Affairs Maria Camacho. “The collaboration between students and L.A. Rams staff and executives creates a path for open dialogue and sparks creative ideas, helping to elevate the sports and entertainment industry amid the diverse landscape of industries in the Los Angeles region.”
For some students, these experiences can evolve into career-defining opportunities. Dylan Tehada ’24 served as a partnership development and strategy intern with the Rams, where he supported events like Rams Training Camp at LMU and learned directly from Rams executives. His performance, enthusiasm, and work ethic stood out, earning him a full-time role as an insights analyst with the Rams.
“It has been a dream come true to be part of such an amazing organization and partnership team,” Tehada said. “I’m excited for all the memories and milestones the future holds.”
Signature Partnership Moments
The LMU + Rams partnership comes alive through marquee moments that blend school spirit, service, and sport. From Rams Training Camp at LMU to LMU Lions filling SoFi Stadium on LMU Day at the Rams to the joy and inclusion celebrated at LMU’s Special Games, these events showcase how LMU and the Rams unite communities and create lasting memories well beyond the field.
Rams Training Camp
For two consecutive years, the Rams have held Training Camp at LMU, inviting the community to watch practices and join special events on LMU’s Westchester campus, as well as offering fans of the Rams and the LMU Lions the opportunity to see the team up close and in action.
LMU Day at Rams House
Every year, LMU brings the energy to the Rams House for LMU Day at the Rams. Students, alumni, families, and friends come together to fill the stands, cheering on the Rams and celebrating LMU pride.
At last year’s event, 12 LMU dance majors were selected to perform during LMU Day at the Rams to a packed stadium, providing an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their skills and gain stadium performance experience.
LMU Special Games
The past two years, the Rams attended LMU’s annual Special Games, adding excitement to the two-day celebration of athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Girls Flag Football Jamboree
The Rams marked a milestone in September 2023 by hosting their inaugural Girls’ Flag Jamboree at LMU. More than 50 high school teams and over 1,000 student-athletes from across Southern California came together at the Westchester campus to celebrate the first sanctioned season of girls’ flag football in California.
Looking Ahead
As the LMU + Rams partnership continues to grow, it stands as a bold blueprint for what’s possible when education and professional sports unite. Together, the university and the team are creating pathways that span from classrooms to careers and from game days to community service. Each initiative reflects a shared commitment by both institutions to innovation, inclusion, and impact—building not just opportunities for students and athletes, but a lasting legacy that resonates across Los Angeles and beyond.
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