Leadership Initiative

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 reflected 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 explored 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 offered lessons in leadership, growth, and finding the confidence to take on what comes next.

Click here to watch a recording of the conversation.

• Angela Kahrmann, Retired, former Head of TIAA Wealth Business Enablement and President & CEO TC Services, TIAA Financial Services
• Andrea Barton Reeves, Commissioner, CT Department of Social Services
• Charlene Russell-Tucker, Commissioner, CT Department of Education
• Moderator: Paddi LeShane, CEO Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations, Inc.

Session 1: Focus on Government

• Nuchette Black-Burke
  • Mayor, Town of Windsor
• Eliza Massaro
  • Political consultant & TCS Yale Board member
• Karen Reddington-Hughes
  • CT State Representative, District 66
• Ayana Taylor
  • Member, Board of Education Town of Windsor
• Arianna Tsikitas
  • State of Connecticut, Housing Committee Clerk
• Patti Russo (moderator)
  • Executive Director of The Campaign School at Yale University

Session 2: Focus on HealthCare

• Crista Durand
  • President & CEO of The Hospital for Special Care
• Cheryl Ficara
  • President of Hartford Hospital
• Cesarina Thompson
  • Interim Dean of USJ’s School of Interdisciplinary Health & Science
• Tiffany Morrissey (moderator)
  • Executive Director of the Connecticut Health Council

Session 3: Arts

• Yolande Spears
  • Senior Vice President of Education & Chief Community Impact Officer at the Bushnell
• Cynthia Rider
  • Managing Director at the Hartford Stage
• Carolyn Kuan
  • Music Director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra & International Conductor
• Tracy Flater
  • Co-Founder & Executive Director at Playhouse on Park
• Amanda Roy (moderator)
  • CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council

Sponsored by BeaconBank

ELEVATE: Building Skills for Personal Development

• Mastering Self-Advocacy & Negotiation
• Networking & Interview Strategies
• Financial Essentials for Personal Growth
• Leveraging Social Media & LinkedIn to Build your Brand

Sponsored by BeaconBank

The mission of USJ’s Leadership Initiative (LI) is to nurture and promote ethical and compassionate leadership in the community and the workplace.

• Meghan Bauer, MBA, RPh
  • Director, Leadership Initiative, USJ
• Judy Casperson, Chair
  • Casperson Consulting
• Jennifer Farley
  • Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Hospital for Special Care
• Rhona Free
  •  President, USJ
• Moraima Gutierrez
  • Deputy District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Melissa-Sue John
  • Assistant Professor of Psychology, USJ
• Stephanie Holmes
  • Senior Director of Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN
• Michelle Kalis
  • Provost, USJ
• Melinda Kaufmann
  • Counsel, Pullman & Comley
• Maggie Pinney
  • Vice President for Institutional Advancement, USJ
• Brittany Nuttall
  • Director of Marketing & Communications, USJ
• Carol Stiff
  • President, Stiff Sports Media Consulting, LLC
• Şebnem Tekin
  • Assistant Professor of Education, USJ

The USJ Leadership Initiative is focused on five goals:

1. Develop and implement programming that offers training in a variety of disciplines and modalities to help develop leaders who have strong ethical values, personal integrity, and a sense of responsibility to the needs of society.
2. Establish formal internal and external networks of mentoring and sponsorship opportunities.
3. Enhance the reputation of USJ beyond the local area.
4. Create a sustainable and stable operating model for the Initiative.
5. Enhance opportunities for USJ students and alumni to network with industry leaders and strengthen their leadership skills.

Advancing Women’s Leadership