UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Before the New York Jets played the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 2025 season opener, Penn State alumna Destiny Rodriguez, class of 2017 in recreation, park, and tourism management (RPTM), arrived at MetLife Stadium about an hour before most personnel.
Joining the Jets this past summer as a member of their personnel operations team, she prepared for her first regular season game with the franchise. Pregame was her time to reflect and have a head start on her game-day responsibilities, she said. Time to reflect on her time as an RPTM student — when she obtained commercial recreation management experience while working with real-world companies — to her recent time in the NFL.
“It hit me right before kickoff,” Rodriguez said. “I sat in the suite with our general manager, assistant general manager and director of football administration, and I was proud. I didn’t ever picture that, but it was something I dreamed about.”
In her role, Rodriguez reports directly to the Jets’ general manager, helping with the operational duties of departments, such as professional and collegiate scouting and analytics. Operational duties of the franchise also include evaluating player talent and maintaining the team roster.
Rodriguez also helps her department maintain the travel schedule of personnel executives and coordinate important dates with league and team calendars. She has recently helped organize spouse events for NFL players’ families.
“I took this job to be challenged in new ways,” Rodriguez said. “I’m learning contract language, trades and roster cuts. Learning how to manage all those aspects is my favorite part. It’s been special to be a part of meetings and learn directly from the general manager and take in his philosophy.”
When Rodriguez walked the field before kickoff of the season opener, she caught up with a friendly foe, she said. Steelers tight end and former Penn State football player Pat Freiermuth joined her, and they caught up while discussing their career paths — and reminiscing about their time together at Penn State.
Before joining the Jets, Rodriguez was the Penn State football director of external operations, where her responsibilities included social media, communications and public relations, team operations and travel.
“Penn State football gave me the ability to learn all the departments,” Rodriguez said. “I soaked in so much from being in different meetings. Relationship-building is what impacted me the most. I had to learn to be OK with uncomfortable conversations, which can happen when managing personnel and roster changes.”
Rodriguez first began to get out of her comfort zone while participating in practicums that are offered to RPTM students, she said. These three-credit courses are designed to increase students' understanding of commercial recreation issues related to delivering recreation services, management strategies and factors affecting guest experiences.
“The practicums give students projects and opportunities to put on events while working with a team,” Rodriguez said. “I grew confidence from this, learning how to talk in front of a group and work with a group. I spoke about these experiences in my interviews that led to my jobs at Penn State Athletics.”
During her first practicum, Rodriguez worked with Marriott Vacations Worldwide in Orlando, Florida, where she collaborated with other students and activity managers to identify best practices for special events. This included utilizing guest satisfaction survey data to identify opportunities for expanded services.
“Collaboration is huge, and organizations don’t win without every single person in the building,” Rodriguez said. “How to best collaborate and meet people at their level is something RPTM taught me. Not everyone communicates in the same way and not everyone works in the same manner. RPTM taught me to be an impactful, inclusive leader.”
She also participated in a resort recreation practicum with the Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. In collaboration with the management team, she obtained recreation management experience, working to identify best practices in creating an activities program to engage with guests.
“For anyone considering a similar career path — whether in sports, entertainment or operations — I’d recommend an RPTM degree,” Rodriguez said. “Students can take advantage of hands-on experiences and internships while building their professional network. You must have the confidence to believe in yourself and believe that no job is too big.”