Originally from McCall, Idaho, Ben Knudson is a second-year IPSM student. Ben received his bachelors degree from Boise State University studying political science with an emphasis in U.S. public policy while also receiving a minor in gerontology. During his time at Boise State, he was an intern at the United States Senate in Washington DC and worked as a nurses aide at the McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center in his home town. During his final years of undergrad, Ben was as a contract lobbyist intern for Westerberg & Associates, a contract lobbying group in Boise, while also tracking statistics at Boise State Men’s Basketball games and working as the state-wide political field director for Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke.

Upon moving to Las Vegas, Ben worked at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as a government relations intern where he helped assist lobbying teams across the globe with advocating the policy goals of the UFC, IMG, Professional Bull Riders, and WME agency. With the Sports Innovation Institute, Ben assists Dr. Nancy Lough with research pertaining to the sports landscape. Ben hopes to continue a career in collegiate athletics and is aiming at earning his PhD after graduating from the IPSM program. In his spare time, Ben enjoys scouting and grading NFL Draft prospects, writing, and traveling to the mountains.