University of the Pacific students had the opportunity to spend a day at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, for the university’s inaugural Culture Day, a dynamic professional development experience centered on cultural identity, personal branding and leading with confidence. 

The day opened with a rewatch of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance, which prompted thoughtful discussion about representation and belonging, setting the tone for a day grounded in reflection and cultural affirmation.

Students then took part in interactive breakout sessions and engaging panel discussions with 49ers staff and leaders from Pacific’s Department of Student Life. Conversations explored how to lean into one’s identity within the sports industry, advocating for women in the workplace and how to harness the power of personal branding.

“We designed Culture Day to introduce students to topics surrounding sports, business and identity,” said Charis Mangulabnan, manager of inclusion and culture at the 49ers.  “In partnership with University of the Pacific, we created a program that engaged students in meaningful dialogue with 49ers front office staff and with one another. 

“Students walked away with a deeper understanding of how identity can shape career pathways and professional journeys, and hearing stories from active professionals made the experience more meaningful and memorable,” she said.

For Bikrem Padda ’26, a Master’s of Public Administration student, the candid discussions were especially meaningful.

“It's really nice to talk about identity right now, especially with the current political climate, and what it means to us as future professionals, specifically from a law school perspective,” he said. “It's nice to have these more serious and genuine conversations.”

San Francisco 49ers staff encouraged students to approach networking with intention, noting that professionals in the industry are often eager to support students navigating similar paths. 

“One piece of advice I would give when it comes to networking is focus on quality over quantity. I think that is extremely important,” said Corina Mendoza, 49ers EDU Assistant at the 49ers Foundation. “You can walk into a room with 50 people and try to shake everyone's hand, but you’re not really making a true connection…But if you meet one person in the room and have a genuine conversation, talk about stuff you have in common and build a meaningful connection, then get their information and follow up.”

The event highlighted the growing impact of Pacific’s partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with the professional sports industry through intentional collaboration and curated experiences.

“Students benefitted from a thoughtfully coordinated, wraparound experience made possible by collaborative leadership across Student Life, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and campus partners—ensuring they felt supported, connected and seen,” said Donté Miller, executive director for student success and retention. “It was a pleasure collaborating with the 49ers and continuing to envision how this partnership can grow.”

The experience also gave students a new perspective on the broader role professional sports organizations play in contributing to their communities.

“My favorite part has been learning what the 49ers do for the community,” said Michaela Goulart ’29, an international relations major. “I think a lot of people don't realize that the teams don't just come here and play football, but they also give back to their community, and not just the players, but also the people who work for the organization. So that was really cool. I liked rewatching the halftime show and then talking about what the show meant, how we can embrace the message of the show and also embrace our own cultures.”

As part of Pacific’s partnership with the 49ers, students have also had the opportunity to participate in microinternships, learn about careers in the sports industry and attend lectures with 49ers staff.