General | August 25, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named to the 2020 class of “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business” by the Sports Business Journal. Honorees represent every sector across sports business from teams and leagues, to agencies and sponsors, to technology companies and media outlets. Calhoun will be profiled in Sports Business Journal on October 19 and recognized during a virtual conference on October 27. 

“It is a true honor to be recognized as a Game Changer in sports business, made all the more special being selected with a small handful of women in the college sports sector whom I have respected and admired for decades. Chairing the NCAA Division I Council during the coronavirus pandemic has been the most difficult and complex challenge of my career, but also the most heartening one as I have watched leaders set aside differences and work together to best support the well-being of student-athletes. It is humbling to be recognized for this work and to be a part of a devoted team of athletics administrators working to lead the NCAA through this unprecedented period.”

Calhoun is in her seventh year at Penn leading the University’s 33 varsity athletics programs, 35 club programs, and broad-based intramural and recreational offerings for students, faculty and staff.

In her first year as the chair of the NCAA Division I Council in 2019-20, Calhoun guided the organization through one of the most complex and challenging times in its history.  While steady progress was made around student-athlete Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and other top priorities such as transfer issues and financial aid, Calhoun has played a critical role in leading the Division I membership through the coronavirus pandemic. This included weekly work to accommodate issues arising from the cancellation of winter championships and spring seasons.  The work currently continues around the postponement of fall championships, and designing solutions that prioritize student-athlete safety and well-being while providing maximum membership flexibility as the Association endeavors to return to sports participation and competition.

As the chair of the NCAA Division I Council, Calhoun also serves on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and NCAA Association-wide Board of Governors where she has played an important role representing membership perspectives on the key issues confronting college athletics.  Calhoun recently completed a two-year term as the chair of the Ivy League Directors of Athletics where she guided a “21st Century Review” of Ivy League athletics and is the current chair of the Philadelphia Big 5 ADs.  She is also the vice-chair of PHL Sports Advisory Board, which brings together the area sports community to attract major sporting events to Philadelphia.

Calhoun’s strong national and local leadership was previously recognized with the 2019 Under Armour Division I FCS Administrator of the Year Award by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the 2017 Division I FCS Administrator of the Year Award by Women Leaders in College Sports.

In 2011, SBJ created Game Changers to “tell the stories of women in the sports business — women with broad, deep, and varied responsibilities and oversight who contribute to the success of the industry in multiple ways.” The 392 women honored in all 10 classes of Game Changers follow in the progressive heritage of their colleagues who have been part of SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement, Champions and Forty Under 40 programs.

2020 Game Changers

Amy Azzi, T-Mobile
Heidi Browning, National Hockey League
Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon
Diana Busino, Turnkey Search
Michelle Byron, NASCAR
Grace Calhoun, University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Carroll, Major League Soccer
Kareeda Chones-Aguam, Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum
Kari Cohen, New York Red Bulls
Joni Comstock, NCAA
Alexandra Dell, SportFive
Lauren Dienes-Middlen, WWE
Christine Dorfler, NBCUniversal
Danielle du Toit, SeatGeek
Melissa Duhaime, PepsiCo Beverages North America
Lauri  Eberhart, Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group 
Jené Elzie, Athletes First Partners
Jill Frederickson, ESPN
Colleen Garrity, Excel Sports Management
Jordan Harnsberger, CAA Sports
Katherine Harwood, Deloitte Consulting
Molly Higgins, Los Angeles Rams
China Jude, University of Wyoming
Donna Julian, Hornets Sports & Entertainment
Erin Kane, Octagon
Angelina Lawton, Sportsdigita
Raquel Libman, Miami Heat and AmericanAirlines Arena
Blair Listino, Comcast Spectacor
Nicole Lynn, Young Money APAA Sports
Liliahn Majeed, National Basketball Association
Bernadette McDonald, Major League Baseball
Jen Millet, Golden State Warriors and Chase Center
Jill Monaghan, Generator Studio
Belicia Montgomery, Minor League Baseball
Jessica Muir, Comcast
Patti Phillips, Women Leaders in College Sports
Shelley Pisarra, Wasserman
Stefanie Rapp, Bleacher Report
Naomi Rodriguez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Dani Rylan Kearny, National Women’s Hockey League
Shoshana Salmon, CBS Sports
Kristine Schroeder, Learfield IMG College
Kim Shelton, JMI Sports
Dasha Smith, National Football League
Jill Spiegel, PGA Tour Superstore
Gina Sprenger, Fanatics
Shizuka Suzuki, AT&T
Vanessa Taveras, CSM Sport & Entertainment
Denise Taylor, Legends
Dionna Widder, Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and BBVA Stadium