EDISON, NJ (February 18, 2022) – Jessica Grasso, Deputy Commissioner for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Siena College Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator participated in the Women Leaders in College Sports (Women Leaders) and NCAA hosted 6th annual President/Search Firm Roundtable event on February 17, 2022,?in a virtual format. 
 
The event included 50 senior-level women from all three NCAA divisions. The participants are Women Leaders members with executive profiles in Women Leaders’ Career Connect platform. They were identified for the President/Search Firm Roundtable program based on their level and years of experience in the industry and an expressed desire to step into an athletic director or commissioner role within the next one to three years. 
 
“Women Leaders in College Sports does a wonderful job with their programming, and I am so grateful to have been a part of this one,” Grasso said. “I was able to connect with industry leaders, have meaningful conversations, and learn some key takeaways for my professional development.”
 
Grasso serves as Deputy Commissioner for the MAAC since June 2020, where she was promoted from Senior Associate Commissioner and has been at the conference office for over seven years. She currently serves on the Women Leaders in College Sports Education and Professional Committee.
 
Jabir took over as Siena College’s Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator in May 2021. She possesses over a decade of senior collegiate athletics administrative experience, highlighted by five years at the University of Dayton.
 
“I was extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to participate in this outstanding event.  Honest and direct dialogue with industry experts is critical to continued professional growth,” Jabir said. “I want to thank Women Leaders, the NCAA, the university presidents, search firms, and other industry experts for their continued commitment to supporting women in intercollegiate athletics.”
 
This is one of many upcoming Women Leaders in College Sports events. Future events include: Institute for Advancement, Leadership Enhancement Institute and Executive Institute. For more information regarding Women Leaders in College Sports, visit www.womenleadersincollegesports.org/.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
About Women Leaders in College Sports
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women leaders working in intercollegiate athletics and beyond. More than 4,300 members strong, Women Leaders promotes the growth, leadership and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches and student-athletes. Read about the recent advancement landscape for women athletic directors in CEO Patti Phillips’ May 2021 USA Today op-ed, and follow Women Leaders on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @WomenLeadersCS.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.