Hello, and welcome to the 150th episode of Trustees and Presidents! I’m Karen Weaver.

Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s at the center of the storm in college athletics—change. Why is it so challenging for college athletics to adapt to this new era of likely revenue sharing, NIL, and its evolving role in campus life? Change has become the defining word for both higher education and college sports, and navigating it successfully requires innovative thinking and strategic leadership.

My guest today, Dr. Julie Wollman, President Emerita of Widener University, brings a wealth of experience and fresh insights to this conversation. A nationally recognized innovator in higher education strategy, Dr. Wollman has spent her career leading change. During her presidency at Widener University, she developed a forward-thinking approach to strategy that embraced scenarios and possibilities, focusing on strategic direction rather than outdated tactical plans—a method now recognized as an emerging best practice.

Dr. Wollman also launched the Common Ground initiative, fostering respectful dialogue on challenging topics, which aligns perfectly with today’s need for thoughtful leadership in higher education and athletics.

And by the way, Julie is a University of Pennsylvania “professor of practice” and she is my colleague!

As we explore how to embrace resistance, manage friction, and fuel progress, I’ll also share lessons from my own experience leading strategic planning for an athletic departments. This discussion will challenge us to rethink what qualities we should seek in leaders tasked with guiding our institutions—and college athletics—through this era of accelerated change.