BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League Council of Presidents has awarded Jennifer Heppel a five-year contract extension that runs through June 30, 2028. She was appointed as the League’s fifth commissioner in 2015.
Heppel has been a leader in national governance, representing the Patriot League within the NCAA governance structure, serving on the NCAA Committee on Academics, NCAA DI Council and NCAA DI Legislative Committee.
During her tenure, the League reached an agreement to make ESPN+ the exclusive digital home for live and archived Patriot League sporting events in June 2020. In August 2023, the League announced an extension of its linear rights agreement with CBS Sports Network. She led the League in signing a marketing rights agreement with JMI Sports in January 2020 and an agreement with INFLCR in June 2021, making the League the first NCAA Division I conference to provide league-wide name, image and likeness (NIL) educational and programming support for its member institutions and student-athletes in a partnership with INFLCR Verified.
She has prioritized the student-athlete voice within the League governance structure, leading a successful initiative to include student-athlete representation on the League’s Sport Management Committee. She restructured the League office to commit a full-time staff member to promote and oversee all League student-athlete engagements and initiatives, including enhanced support of the Student-Athlete Advisory Commission (SAAC). The League has also partnered with the Ivy League to host two Mental Health Summits during her time as Commissioner.
She also guided a collaborative initiative between League coaches, student-athletes and administrators in forming the Patriot League Anti-Racism Commission in July 2020, allowing for a partnership across generations to examine areas where systemic racism is perpetuated and seek actionable solutions for long-term sustainable change within the League. Collaborating with The Inclusion Playbook since 2022, she continues to prioritize the examination of changes in policies and practices that will promote Anti-Racism and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for the League and its member athletics departments.
On March 29, 2023, Heppel testified at the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce hearing entitled “Taking The Buzzer Beater To The Bank: Protecting College Athletes’ NIL Dealmaking Rights.”
Patriot League Leadership Changes
*Colgate University President Dr. Brian W. Casey will take over as the chairperson of the Patriot League’s Council of Presidents. He will be joined on the executive committee by American University President Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Lafayette College President Nicole Hurd, Ph.D.
*Army West Point Director of Athletics Mike Buddie will serve as the chair for the Patriot League Committee on Athletic Administration (CAA). Holy Cross Deputy Director of Athletics Rosemary Shea will serve as chair for the Sports Management Committee and Bucknell University’s Dr. Linda Smolka (Professor, Mathematics) will serve as the chair for the League’s Policy Committee.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.