UMass 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: 

• Led the creation of "Advancing the Legacy of Excellence" (2022–2027), the department's strategic plan built in alignment with the university's For The Times strategic plan and priorities. 

• Secured New Balance as the official apparel partner of UMass Boston Athletics 

• 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 

• Tripled the annual capital budget with nearly $1.2 million in improvements 

• Increased the department's overall budget by 14.6% 

• Launched the first-ever Beacons Day of Giving, surpassing 1,000 donors and over 450 alumni gifts 

• Established the Mac Singleton Fund, an endowment to support the advancement of women's athletics 

• Opened the Dan Rea '70 Boston State College Varsity Training Room, a 3,300-square-foot facility for student-athletes 

• Added Women's Lacrosse in 2023–2024, and Field Hockey in 2025–2026 

• Improved academic success efforts leading to the highest cumulative GPA for the department in over 10 years with a 3.30 in Academic Year, 2024-2025. 

• Achieved the best finish in the LEC Commissioner's Cup (competitive success) in over 5 years. 

• Created the Director of Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence position 

• Welcomed over 5,000 unique campus members into Recreation programs and reestablished the Waterfront Recreation Program 

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: 

• Jen Cohen, University of Southern California – Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics (Sandy Barbour Nike DI FBS Athletic Director of the Year) 

• Kim Davis, National Hockey League – Senior Executive Vice President 

• Alberta Lee, Rock Entertainment Group & Cleveland Cavaliers – Executive Vice President, Chief People & Culture Officer (Nike Nell Jackson Executive of the Year) 

• Jacqie McWilliams-Parker, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Commissioner 

• Sonja Stills, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Commissioner 

• Julie Uhrman, Angel City FC – Founder and CEO 

The BSN Sports Award Recipients are: 

• Organization of the Year: LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation  

• Innovator of the Year: Jessica Huntley, Teamworks/Atlantic East Conference, Senior Business Development Executive/Commissioner  

• Resilience Award: Raven Jemison, Kansas City Current, President  

• Woman to Watch: Avignon Greene, Populous, Senior Associate - Architect  

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.