Donna Lopiano

Dr. Donna Lopiano is recognized for her significant contributions to American sports, with a career encompassing athletic competition, institutional leadership, and advocacy for gender equity in athletics. During her athletic career, Lopiano participated in 26 national championships across four sports and was a nine-time All-American at four different positions in softball. At 16, she joined the Connecticut Brakettes, a national championship women's softball team, and over a decade, achieved a record of 183–18, with 1,633 strikeouts in 817 innings. Lopiano is a six-time national champion, nine-time All-American, and three-time ASA Softball MVP.

After her athletic career, Lopiano served as assistant athletic director at Brooklyn College, coaching basketball, volleyball, and softball, before becoming the first director of women's athletics at the University of Texas. Over 18 years at the University of Texas at Austin, she developed the women's athletics program, earning national recognition. The program's eight sports consistently ranked in the nation's top 10 in Division I, securing 18 national championships in six sports, producing 51 individual national champion athletes, 57 Southwest Conference championships, and 395 All-American athletes. Ninety percent of women athletes who completed their eligibility earned a baccalaureate degree. Lopiano expanded the department's budget from $57,000 to nearly $3 million while maintaining national rankings across all sports.

Lopiano served as chief executive officer of the Women's Sports Foundation, focusing on Title IX compliance and gender equity in sports. She has testified before Congressional committees, consulted for the U.S. Office for Civil Rights Department of Health, Education and Welfare Title IX Task Force, and served as an expert witness in more than 60 court cases. Lopiano has also advised school districts, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations on Title IX compliance, governance, and strategic planning.

As president and founder of Sports Management Resources, Lopiano leads a consulting firm that assists scholastic and collegiate athletics departments with growth and development. She is an adjunct professor of sports management at Southern Connecticut State University and president of The Drake Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to academic integrity in higher education and the health and wellbeing of college athletes. Lopiano holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California, along with five honorary doctoral degrees.

Lopiano is a member of 13 halls of fame, including the National Sports Hall of Fame, National Softball Hall of Fame, and Texas Women's Hall of Fame. She has been named among "The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports" by Fox Sports and listed by The Sporting News as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in Sports." The Institute for International Sport included her among the "100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America." Lopiano has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee, NCAA, and national collegiate athletics associations for her leadership and advocacy for gender equity in sports. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and magazines and is a commentator on sports and gender equity, providing expertise on leadership, equity, and the development of women's athletics.