Baruch College Law Professor Wins Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award

February 10, 2021

For Baruch Professor Marc Edelman—a nationally recognized sports law expert—the news that he won a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award was not only professionally rewarding but also struck a personal note.

“My reaction upon hearing I won a U.S. Fulbright was pure gratitude,” said Professor Edelman, who teaches law at the Zicklin School of Business. “I found myself thinking a lot about my mom’s father, who came to the United States from Poland and worked in a liquor store for most of his adult life. He never had the opportunity to attend college, but he saved every penny he had to help me get an education.”

“My grandfather lived long enough to see me graduate from college and know I graduated from law school. But he passed away a few years before I became a professor. I could only imagine his pride if he knew that I earned a Fulbright!”

Edelman intends to conduct research at the University of Canberra in Australia next fall, after the Fulbright program anticipates lifting current travels restrictions due to the global pandemic.

‘Underlying issues of race and class that we cannot ignore when looking at sports labor’

According to Edelman, his belief that the American college sports system warrants a fundamental change provided inspiration for his research focus. With the Fulbright award, he will explore how differently the United States and Australia regulate commercial sports, particularly financial opportunities for young athletes. In Australia, athletes can launch a professional career immediately following high school, unlike in the United States.

“Sports is America’s national pastime. The way in which we treat our athletic labor says a lot about how we treat our labor force in general,” explained Edelman. “There are underlying issues of race and class that we cannot ignore when looking at sports labor relations. There are also issues of free markets and fair markets.”

Edelman continued, “It is hard to convince legislators that change is viable without presenting evidence of a more equitable alternative. Thus, my goal is to understand how what we see in America compares to other places around the world, most specifically Australia.”

‘Elevate my Research to a Different Level’

A frequently sought-after expert in a wide range of sports-related legal issues, Edelman feels his Fulbright experience will provide growth opportunities both as a scholar and as a person.

“Going to Australia will allow me to elevate my research to an entirely different level,” said Professor Edelman. “And, since I am a very social person, I look forward to learning new things and expanding my horizons.”

Professor Edelman received his undergraduate degree in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a masters and JD from the University of Michigan.

He recently returned to academic studies earning a Masters of Science in Education at Baruch’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs in 2019.

In 2020 alone, Professor Edelman published five law reviews in top-tier publications on sports law, college sports, and sports gambling. He recently co-authored a research paper “Exploring College Sports in the Time of Covid-19: A Legal, Medical, and Ethical Analysis.”

# # #