Boston, MA (May 8, 2025) — UMass Boston proudly hosted the "Visionary Leadership in the 21st Century" conference on Thursday afternoon in the Campus Center Ballroom. The event was organized by Dr. Joseph N. Cooper, the Dr. J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair of Sport Leadership and Administration, and featured NCAA President Charlie Baker as the keynote speaker and panelist.
Joining President Baker on the panel were Jacqueline Schuman Ed.D., UMass Boston Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics and Recreation; Tom Carleo, Vice President of Running at New Balance; Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson, a women's basketball student-athlete and Sports Leadership and Administration (SLA) student; and Aryianna Garceau, the 2025 NCAA Division III Track and Field Champion in the 60m Hurdles and UMass Boston track and field student-athlete.
Gallery: Visionary Leadership
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The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, followed by testimonials from SLA students Ashleigh Lagor, a freshman women's basketball player, and Diego Gisholt, a senior from the men's soccer team.
President Baker then delivered a keynote address centered on the qualities of visionary leadership before joining the panel for a dynamic discussion on leadership in collegiate athletics and beyond. Panelists addressed a range of questions focused on identifying, cultivating, and exemplifying visionary leadership in the 21st century.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session between students and panelists, culminating in a group photo to mark the occasion.
