Declan
Abernethy

I am a scholar and educator whose work explores intersections among sport, labor, technology, and cities. My doctoral research traced the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's fight for equal pay and the history of women's soccer in the US. I have also examined how mega-events like the 2026 World Cup reshape Atlanta and impact residents, and the role of technology in the growth of women's professional soccer. I write and speak about this work for public audiences as often as scholarly ones, because I believe these questions matter well beyond the academy.

That same conviction shapes my teaching. I design and lead courses at Georgia Tech — across in-person and online formats — that challenge students to think critically about how sport reflects and reshapes culture, politics, and technology. My goal in the classroom is to build inclusive, engaging environments where students connect theory to lived experience and leave with critical-thinking skills they carry well beyond the course.

Beyond teaching, I am committed to the practical and community dimensions of sport. As a state championship-winning high school soccer coach, I translate the same principles I value in scholarship — collaboration, resilience, critical reflection — into a team environment that helps young athletes grow as players and as people, not just as competitors.