Leading Through Change: A Conversation with Val Ackerman

Please join us for our Inaugural Event Leading Through Change: A Conversation with Val Ackerman

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from 5-7pm

University of Saint Joseph, Bruyette Athenaeum

Join the Leadership Initiative at the University of Saint Joseph for a fireside conversation with Val Ackerman, one of the most influential executives in sports, moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist Jeane Coakley.



From helping launch the WNBA as its founding president to leading USA Basketball and guiding the BIG EAST through a defining era of change, Ackerman has spent her career building organizations, navigating transformation, and helping shape the future of a rapidly evolving industry. In a candid discussion, Ackerman will reflect on the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, the decisions and challenges that defined her career, and what she has learned about leading through change. The talk will explore resilience, taking risks, building credibility, navigating spaces where few have gone before, and creating opportunities for those who follow. More than a conversation about sports, the evening will offer lessons in leadership, growth, and finding the confidence to take on what comes next.