( CNN ) -- In the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal , embattled Penn State University is hosting a sexual abuse conference and says boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and Elizabeth Smart will give speeches . The conference will be held on October 29-30 and comes after the well-publicized scandal that culminated with the conviction of Sandusky , a former assistant Penn State football coach on multiple charges of sexual abuse of young boys . `` Over the last nine months , Penn State has made a commitment to becoming a leader in the research , prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse , and we have taken a number of steps to ensure that our communities are safer , '' Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a message promoting the conference . Leonard , a boxing icon , is known for his lightning fast hands , legendary fights and recently for his role in several reality television shows . But last year in his autobiography , Leonard delivered the surprising admission that early in his career he was sexually abused by an unnamed Olympic boxing coach . Penn State accreditation in jeopardy over sex abuse scandal . Smart made headlines in 2002 when she was kidnapped from her Utah home at age 14 and held captive for nine months . Her kidnapping stunned the nation , and the media covered the months-long search to find her . Her abductor , Brian David Mitchell , sexually abused her during her time in captivity and is serving life in prison for the kidnapping and assault . Recently Smart has married and become an advocate for change related to child abduction . Penn State has had its share of bad headlines since Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse against 10 male victims . In July former FBI Director Louis Freeh released a report on Penn State 's handling of the sex-abuse allegations against Sandusky , stating that the school 's leadership showed `` total and consistent disregard '' for youths sexually abused by Sandusky . Also last month , the NCAA fined Penn State $ 60 million , banned the football program from bowl games for four years , stripped scholarships and took away the team 's wins from 1998 to 2011 . Former senator to be integrity monitor for Penn State athletics . Jordana Ossad contributed to this report .
The conference will be held on October 29 and 30 . `` We have taken ... steps to ensure ... that the event is safe for all participants and attendees,'' said a statement from the university. Sugar Ray Leonard and Elizabeth Smart are scheduled to speak .