Dr. Karen Weaver

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Karen Weaver, Ed.D., is a nationally recognized authority on the intersection of college athletics and higher education leadership. With a career spanning four decades as a Division III coach, athletics administrator, and scholar, she has built bridges between scholarship and practical application, making complex transitions in college sports understandable to boards, presidents, and the public. At the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, she serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Academic Director of the Collegiate Athletics Certificate Program. Dr. Weaver is noted for her insightful analyses of the implications of the House v. NCAA settlement for higher education and college athletics. Her work is distinguished by its focus on helping institutions shift from reactive policy approaches to anticipatory leadership that aligns athletic programs with institutional missions and values. Her research and teaching center around the evolving governance, finance, and media landscapes of college athletics, particularly the challenges faced by mid-major FBS Division institutions. As an author, she is set to publish a forthcoming book with Johns Hopkins University Press, which discusses strategies for university leaders navigating college athletics' complex landscape. Dr. Weaver also hosts a podcast titled 'Trustees Presidents: Managing Intercollegiate Athletics', where she engages in in-depth conversations with key leaders and experts in the field.

Research Interests