By: UMass Boston Athletics
BOSTON – Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation at UMass Boston, Dr. Jacqueline Schuman, has been selected as a 2025 Women Leaders in Sports Nike Executive of the Year Award Winner, as announced by the Women Leaders in Sports organization.
Dr. Schuman is being honored for her outstanding leadership and transformative impact in collegiate athletics. She will be recognized at the 2025 Women Leaders in Sports National Convention, held October 12–14 in Kansas City. The Women Leaders Awards Show, presented by Nike, will take place Monday, October 13 at 12 p.m. CT at the Loews Kansas City Hotel.
Dr. Schuman was appointed Director of Athletics and Recreation at UMass Boston in the summer of 2021 and elevated to Vice Chancellor in August 2022. She is the first woman in university history to hold this role and serves on both the Chancellor's Cabinet and University Senior Leadership Team.
Under her leadership, UMass Boston Athletics and Recreation has experienced historic growth and innovation:
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Directed over $13 million in capital projects, including an $8+ million renovation of the Clark Athletic Center and $5+ million turf softball field project, one of the only Division III softball facilities of its kind in New England
Reflecting on the honor, Dr. Schuman shared:
"Thank you to Women Leaders in Sports for the incredible work you do to center, grow, and elevate women in sports and leadership. I'm incredibly humbled, honored, and hopeful as I receive this recognition. This award is a reflection of the remarkable team I work with at UMass Boston, and the shared commitment we have to champion excellence, equity, and opportunity for all student-athletes. I am especially honored to represent such a diverse, dynamic, and important university on a national stage. I am also hopeful as I receive this award that I can serve as a model for other women to have the confidence, determination, and resilience to rise repeatedly, despite the obstacles they encounter along the way, so they too can lead."
Joining Dr. Schuman as 2025 Nike Executives of the Year are:
The BSN Sports Award Recipients are:
Women Leaders in Sports has been in operation for over 45 years and is a privately funded non-profit committed to transforming the landscape of leadership in sports. Through their work, they champion a comprehensive approach to leadership and career strategy development - one that builds influential networks, maximizes resources, and cultivates a mindset geared towards success. To learn more about Women Leaders in Sports visit www.womenleadersinsports.org.