Discovering Myself in the Space of Others : An Autoethnographic Study of Guest Lecturing as Cultural Practice in Sports Management

This study explores the lived experience of a university professor in sports management who conducted guest lectures at other institutions, through the lens of autoethnography. The primary purpose of the research is to examine how such experiences contribute to the professor's evolving sense of educational identity, passion, professional calling, and scholarly communication. Autoethnography was employed as the methodological framework, drawing on the researcher's own narratives, lecture materials, reflections, and interactions with students during multiple guest lectures. The analysis yielded three central themes: (1) the tension and growth experienced while teaching in unfamiliar educational spaces, (2) the rediscovery of academic dialogue through reciprocal knowledge-sharing, and (3) the deepened sense of professional identity and educational calling. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of a professor’s role when removed from the familiar context of their home institution. The study suggests that guest lectures are not merely supplementary activities but can serve as meaningful pedagogical and cultural practices that reshape one’s understanding of teaching and scholarship.