TRAFFORD, Pa. – Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, Ph.D., President at Washington & Jefferson College, will serve as chair of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Presidents' Council for the 2025-26 academic year. Dr. MacLeod Walls' term as PAC Presidents' Council Chair began on July 1.

Dr. MacLeod Walls succeeds Douglas Lee, President at Waynesburg University, who served as the PAC Presidents' Council chair in 2024-25.

"I am delighted to serve as Chair of the Presidents' Athletic Conference for the 2025-2026 academic year," said Dr. MacLeod Walls. " The PAC is known for fostering outstanding academics coupled with competitive DIII athletics, and Washington & Jefferson College is a founding member. I am grateful to work alongside the Commissioner and fellow Presidents to advance our values and promote excellence in the classroom, on the court, and on the playing field."

The Presidents' Council holds ultimate authority and responsibility for PAC governance and is responsible for the establishment, direction and, if necessary, the enforcement of general policy, including the conference office's annual budget and all other financial matters. The league's name clearly reflects its founding principle that operational control of all aspects of intercollegiate athletics is ultimately the responsibility of the presidents of each member institution, and thus active presidential leadership and oversight is paramount in conference administration. Institutions involved understand that the key components to its progress lie in the foundation of faith in each member. It is the conviction of its membership that the PAC is the solution to the dilemma of intercollegiate athletic competition, and they have staked their athletic future on this premise.

With a strong history of success, Dr. MacLeod Walls assumed leadership of W&J as its 14th President on July 1, 2024. Having served as the President of William Jewell College in Liberty, MIssouri, for eight years prior to arriving in Washington, she significantly strengthened the college's reputation through major fundraising initiatives, enrollment growth, and strategic branding and marketing efforts. She developed meaningful partnerships with an array of organizations, served on the board of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and is active in higher education leadership and advocacy.
 
Dr. MacLeod Walls earned her Ph.D. in English Literature and Classical Rhetoric from TCU and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from fellow PAC member Hiram College, where she earned Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. MacLeod Walls is an alumna of the Harvard New Presidents Program, the Harvard Management and Leadership Program, the ACE Women in Leadership Program, and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Program. To view Dr. MacLeod Walls' full biography, click here.

W&J administration will also chair all PAC Councils for the 2025-26 academic year. Scott McGuinness will chair the PAC Athletic Administrators Council, while Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Jina DeRubbo will serve as Chair of the PAC Senior Woman Administrator Council. Additionally, the PAC Faculty Athletic Representatives Association will be led by Dr. Timothy Klitz, Professor of Psychology.

Joe Onderko will continue serving the PAC as its commissioner in 2025-26, his 20th year as the league's chief administrator. Onderko's staff in the conference office includes Brian Rose, who is entering his third full year as the Associate Commissioner/Director of Communications, and Kristin Consuegra, who is beginning her fourth year as the Assistant Commissioner for Governance and Championships.

Currently comprised of 12 select private institutions – Allegheny College, Bethany College, Chatham University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Geneva College, Grove City College, Hiram College, Saint Vincent College, Thiel College, Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University and Westminster College – the PAC remains a unique organization in this day of high-pressure intercollegiate athletics, with academics at the center of each member's philosophy. Case Western Reserve University has competed as an affiliate member in the sport of football since 2012. 

Hiram College, which was announced as the PAC's 12th full-time member in April, 2024, will begin competition in all sports in the 2025-26 academic year. Hiram, who was previously a member in the PAC from 1971-89, competed in men's wrestling and men's volleyball last year as an affiliate member.

Saint Francis University, which was announced as the PAC's 13th full-time member in March, 2025, began full PAC membership with all voting and membership rights on July 1, 2025. Saint Francis will retain its current affiliation as a full-time member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) until June 30, 2026, when it will begin transitioning to Division III. 

The PAC crowns league champions and awards all-conference honors in its 24 championship sports, including 13 men's sports and 11 women's.