NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference marked its 11th year participating in the Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and espnW. This program harnesses the power of sport and mentorship to connect accomplished women leaders from around the globe with female executives at leading organizations in the U.S. sports industry.
“We are profoundly thankful for the BIG EAST Conference’s 11-year partnership as a mentor organization of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Sports Mentoring Program”, said Dr. Sarah Hillyer, Founder of the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society at the University of Tennessee. “Under the leadership of Val Ackerman, the conference’s outstanding team has exemplified a spirit of service—sharing hard-earned leadership insights and affirming their enduring belief in the power and promise of women leaders around the world.”
This year, BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman served as lead mentor to Vaidehi Vaidya, Founder and Managing Director of Women in Sports India (WISI). BIG EAST Conference staff members Nicole Early, Katie Willett, and Genelia Santanelli were also part of the mentorship team. Vaidehi founded WISI in 2020 with a mission to rebuild equitable opportunities and representation for women in sport. Her work includes developing a digital global community connecting women in sports and fitness and leading initiatives that empower the next generation of female athletes and professionals in India.
“The Global Sports Mentoring Program continues to be an impactful and inspiring initiative for women in sport,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “Each year, we are reminded of how sport can transcend borders and open doors for women and girls around the world. Working with a smart and ambitious leader like Vaiedhi, who is creating lasting change in her home country, reinforces our belief that mentorship and opportunity are essential to driving equity on a global scale.”
Over the past decade, the BIG EAST has hosted women from Vietnam, Argentina, Uganda, Israel, Egypt, Kosovo, Indonesia, Lithuania, and India, each bringing unique perspectives and initiatives that promote inclusion, leadership, and empowerment through sport. Other participating mentors from the college sports sector this year were the NCAA, University of Connecticut, and James Madison University.