Dr. Karen Weaver, a 1976 graduate of Abington High School and former athletic director at Penn State Abington, recently moderated a University of Pennsylvania Homecoming panel focused on the institutional effects of the NCAA’s new policy involving Name, Image, Likeness (NIL).
NIL refers to the right of college athletes (and increasingly high schoolers) to earn money from their personal brand through endorsements, social media, appearances, and other commercial activities. The policy is considered a major shift from the NCAA’s past amateurism rules that prohibited direct athlete compensation.
The policy allows athletes to profit from their identity, controlling the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness, often through brand deals, sponsored content, or personal appearances.
“This is a major change in terms of how athletes receive athletic scholarships that began August 1, 2025,” Weaver said. “It has affected every sport, not just football. If schools ‘opt-in,’ their costs potentially go up dramatically if they want to remain competitive.”
Dr. Weaver, an adjunct assistant professor at UPenn and a former All-American athlete, is considered a national expert on the intersection of college sports and higher education. She also runs Penn GSE’s Collegiate Athletics for Senior Campus Leaders certificate program.
“If the NCAA hadn’t fought so hard against the Ed O’Bannon [a former UCLA basketball player] decision, I don’t think we’d be where we are today,” said Weaver. “Both sides got entrenched in their arguments and the values of preserving amateurism just accelerated the lawsuits and the challenges. Now, you’re drinking out of a firehose.”
You can read more of her thoughts on the issue here. You can watch the full discussion below:
In related news, Dr. Weaver told Glenside Local that she has a book coming out early fall 2026.
Titled “Understanding College Athletics: What Campus Leaders Need to Know About College Sports”, the book serves as a guide for university presidents, trustees, and senior leaders to navigate the complex, evolving landscape of college sports, focusing on governance, finance, NCAA rules, and the business aspects of athletics, helping them ask critical questions to align sports with institutional mission amidst challenges like NIL and media deals.
In January, Dr. Weaver served as the lead author and editor for a college textbook titled “Sport Finance: Where the Money Comes From, and Where the Money Goes“.
For more on Dr. Weaver’s career, you can read her biography.
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.
Photo: UPenn