After volunteering at the Olympic Games last summer, Ghahraman returned to her alma mater as Northeastern’s director of volleyball operations.
It’s easy to understand why Mélanne Ghahraman is committed to exploring a career in sports. The 2024 Northeastern University graduate spent last summer volunteering at the Paris Olympics — at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, no less.
“Paris captured my heart in more ways than one,” says Ghahraman, who had graduated months earlier with a degree in English and a minor in sports communication. “I would love to go back and experience it again with a full-time job in the sports industry and see where that takes me. I’m happy in Boston — but a piece of me is still in Paris.”
After returning from the Olympics, Ghahraman served as Northeastern’s director of volleyball operations, with responsibility for a variety of logistics for the women’s team in addition to facilitating alumni relations and other duties.
As an undergraduate Ghahraman competed with Northeastern Club Running and served as marketing director of the Sports Analytics Club. She was president of the university’s Francophone Club.
“I want to work specifically in sports management,” Ghahraman says of building on her entry-level job with Northeastern volleyball. “This is a great first experience working here at my alma mater. The staff has been great and everyone has been so welcoming.”
Ghahraman worked at Champions Park, a free fan zone at Place du Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower.
“People came from all over the world and they helped create an ambience that was festive and fun,” says Ghahraman, who roomed with her older sister, a Paris resident. “For someone who is working and wants to continue working in the sports industry, this was a great opportunity for me — the Olympics is the highest sporting event in the world, right? So it was great to connect with so many people.”
The medal ceremonies were held for the winning athletes at her fan zone
“We had a bunch of athletes come in to get their medals on stage,” Ghahraman says.
A highlight was seeing Tara Davis-Woodhall receive a gold medal for the women’s long jump. Ghahraman had met her briefly while volunteering at a Boston track meet earlier in the year.
“And then at the end of the Olympics we as volunteers were able to go on the stage and have fun,” says Ghahraman, who also attended a beach volleyball match during the Olympics.
Her love of languages was put to good use. Ghahraman speaks English, French, Armenian and Italian, in addition to having an understanding of Spanish.
“I was helping with the flow of spectators coming in, guiding people around, letting them know where to go,” says Ghahraman, who attended an Armenian school in suburban Boston before enrolling at Northeastern. “I was speaking in every language that I could.”
After the Olympics she jumped into her new job with Northeastern volleyball.
“We were in season in the fall, so I had a lot of work surrounding itineraries and ordering meals for the players,” says Ghahraman, who helped coordinate a senior banquet event for the players. “At the same time I was reaching out to alumni, setting up events and doing outreach with donors, alumni, parents, families — which are things I’m continuing to do now.”