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ACC Showcases Leadership and Impact at Women Leaders in Sports National Convention

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference proudly demonstrated its leadership and commitment to elevating women in athletics at the 2025 Women Leaders in Sports National Convention, held earlier this week in Kansas City. With the theme “Own It,” the event celebrated trailblazers and empowered the next generation of women leaders across college athletics.
 
The ACC was well represented with 16 student-athletes from across the conference participating in an exclusive event hosted by Populous at their headquarters. Representatives came from nearly every member institution, showcasing the league’s broad engagement and investment in leadership development.
 
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Women Leaders and to provide this meaningful development opportunity for our student-athletes at the 2025 Convention in Kansas City,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “The ACC and its member institutions remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering leadership growth and expanding pathways for women in sports. We commend Patti Phillips and the Women Leaders organization for their unwavering dedication to advancing opportunities and creating lasting impact for future generations.”
 
A highlight of the convention came as Jane Miller, a retired and longtime ACC and collegiate athletics pioneer, was honored with the Women Leaders Nike Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary impact on the industry.
 
As a sponsor of the “Lunch with Leaders and Legends”, the ACC also proudly nominated Dr. Beth Miller to be recognized as an ACC Legend. In addition, Miller and Shirelle Jackson of Miami served as featured Leaders and Legends during the luncheon, exemplifying the conference’s legacy of excellence.
 
The ACC’s impact extended to the national conversation on leadership in college sports:
  • All three female ACC Athletics Directors – California’s Jenny Simon-O’Neill, Duke’s Nina King, and Virginia’s Carla Williams – participated on a featured panel titled “Women Leading in the Power 4,” representing three of the eight panelists on stage.
  • Simon-O’Neill also served as a panelist on “Maintaining Optionality: Keeping Your Department in the Driver’s Seat in the Modern Era.”
  • Lindsey Babcock, Deputy Director of Athletics at Wake Forest, contributed to a powerful discussion on the panel “Upward Impact: Power Moves to Lead Up.

Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in Sports is the only nationally recognized professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect, advance, and champion women leaders working in sports. Women Leaders provides career and leadership training, access to a powerful network, and the resources to advance women at every stage of their careers. 

2025 ACC Student-Athlete Representatives 
Boston College 
Elena Aramini, Women’s Swimming & Diving

Clemson 
Tara Walsh, Women’s Gymnastics

Duke
Cameron Christie, Women’s Lacrosse

Georgia Tech
Sheleah Harris, Women’s Track & Field

Louisville
Chelsea Williams, Women's Track & Field

Miami
Anderson Blalock, Women’s Rowing

North Carolina
Molly Dansby, Women’s Rowing

NC State
Hannah Church, Softball

Notre Dame
Bella Tehrani, Women’s Basketball

Pitt
Jess Vega, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Claire Jansen, Women’s Swimming & Diving

SMU
Hedda Kronstrand Kvalvåg, Women’s Track & Field

Stanford 
Atira O’Neil, Artistic Swimming

Syracuse 
Sydney Jackson, Softball

Virginia
Sophia Akpan, Women’s Track & Field

Wake Forest
Aubrey Nisbet, Women’s Tennis 

About the Atlantic Coast Conference 
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 73rd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).