College of Education and Human Development

School of Kinesiology

Landy Lu

  • Pronouns: she, her, hers

  • Assistant Professor, Sport Management

  • School of Kinesiology
    Cooke Hall
    1900 University Ave SE
    Minneapolis, MN 55455-0376

  • dlu@umn.edu
Landy Lu

Areas of interest

Organizational theory, institutional and organizational change, event leverage, interorganizational relationships

Degrees

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
PhD, Sport management
Peking University, Beijing, China
MEd, Sociology of sport

Biography

My research in general focuses on organizational management at the intersections of sport, health/wellness, and events. In particular, my research focuses on understanding (1) institutional and organizational change and innovation, and (2) organizational mechanisms for event leverage initiatives. I study these organizational dynamics in a variety of contexts, such as player concussions, corporate social responsibility, sport events, and eSports. I utilize multiple research methods including quantitative (e.g., event history analysis, structural equation modeling), qualitative (e.g., case studies, field methods, archival text analysis), and social network approaches.

My first research line examines institutional and organizational change. Specifically, my research focuses on investigating how environmental conditions interact with organizational characteristics to influence organizational responses to institutional change and the role of individual and/or collective actors in the change process. One important institutional change I have explored is around player concussions. Several of our work sheds light on institutional evolution around concussion in sports, organizational shifting responses to concussions over time, and institutional entrepreneurial action in the change process.

My second research line focuses on investigating organizational mechanisms for leveraging sport events of different scales for sustainable community benefits. Several of our projects examine the formation, collaborative processes and dynamics, alongside the challenges of event-leveraging cross-sector partnerships. I'm also interested in incorporating network approaches to examine the network governance of these partnerships. This line of work contributes to understanding how various stakeholder groups can better leverage sport events to benefit the local community. 

Awards
2024 North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Research Fellow Award

2023 McSweeney, Lu, & Jones, EASM Best Conference Paper Award

2023 Janet B. Parks NASSM Research Grant Award

2021 European Association for Sport Management (EASM) New Researcher Award

2019 American Kinesiology Association (AKA) Doctoral Scholar Award

Publications

Selected Publications

Lu, L. D., Zhou, R., Chen, G., & Misener, L. (2024). Examining the evolution of network governance forms of an event leveraging collective: a longitudinal investigation. Event Management. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599524X17066809545638 

McSweeney, M., Lu, L., & Kikulis, L. (2023). ‘When we meet, we play football, it reminds me of home': emotions, institutional work, and sport-for-development and peace. European Sport Management Quarterly, 1-26. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2023.2250369 

Sutherland, T., Lu, L. D., & Misener, L. (2023). An exploration of Canadian multisport service organizations’ response to healthy living mandate: integrating institutional and archetype theories. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 1-18.  Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2023.2242882   

Chen, G., Lu, L. D., & Filo, K. (2023). Exploring social entrepreneurial activities at a community sport event in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. Event Management. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599523X16847420514737

Lu, L. D., Heinze, K., & Gong, H. (2023). Relational pluralism, organizational status, and the adoption of collegiate varsity esports programs in the US. European Sport Management Quarterly, 1-23. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2023.2197927   

Lu, L. D. & Misener, L. (2022). Managing and sustaining cross-sector leveraging partnership in the post-event era: A case study of a Provincial Parasport Collective. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(5)1387–1408. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2025885

Wasser, K., Lu, L.D., & Misener, L. (2022) Examining long-term organizational forms surrounding leverage and legacy delivery of Canadian major-sport events. Event Management26(6), 1211-1233. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599522X16419948390790   

Lu, L. D. & Heinze, K. (2021). Examining institutional entrepreneurship in the passage of youth sport concussion legislation. Journal of Sport Management35(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2019-0327

Misener, L., Lu, L. D., & Carlisi, R. (2020). Leveraging events to develop collaborative partnerships: Examining the formation and collaborative dynamics of the Ontario Parasport Legacy Group. Journal of Sport Management. 34(5), 447-461. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2019-0283

Lu, L. D. & Heinze, K. L. (2019). Sport policy institutionalization: Examining the adoption of concussion legislation across states. Journal of Sport Management33(6), 493-505. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2018-0330

Lu, L. D., Heinze, K. L., & Soderstrom, S. (2018). Playing multiple positions: Student-athlete identity salience and conflict. Journal of Intercollegiate Sport11(2), 214-241. https://doi.org/10.1123/jis.2018-0034

Lee, S. P., Heinze, K., & Lu, L. D. (2018). Warmth, competence, and willingness to donate: How perceptions of partner organizations affect support of corporate social responsibility initiatives in professional sport. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 42(1), 23-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723517731876

Heinze, K., & Lu, D. (2017). Shifting responses to institutional change: The National Football League and player concussions. Journal of Sport Management, 31(5). 497-513. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2016-0309