The NCAA News - News and Features

July 21, 1997

Division II committee appointments gain ratification

The Division II Presidents Council Transition Team recently ratified the appointment of 22 individuals to vacancies on six Division II-specific committees, as well as the appointment of student-athletes to the new 24-member Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Presidents Council also ratified the appointment of individuals to fill Division II vacancies on two Association-wide committees.

The new members of Division II-specific committee members join 25 current committee members who have agreed to continue service in the new governance structure.

The appointment of new members of Division II-specific committees concluded a process that began in December 1996 with solicitation of nominations from the membership.

The Presidents Council ratified the formation of the new Division II Nominating Committee in March, enabling that committee to meet and review nominations for other committees.

The Division II Management Council Transition Team reviewed and approved the Division II Nominating Committee's recommendations in June, then forwarded them to the Presidents Council for ratification, which occurred June 24.

Following are the individuals appointed to fill vacancies on the Division II-specific committees (a complete roster of each committee will be published in the August 4 issue of The NCAA News).

Academic Requirements Committee: Wade Robinson, University of Nebraska, Omaha (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers representative).

Championships Committee: Thomas Kearns, Northern Kentucky University; Rita M. Castagna, Assumption College; Fred Jacoby, Lone Star Conference; Earl W. Edwards, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; Joseph T. Donahue, California State University, Stanislaus; Sallie V. Dalton, University of Central Arkansas; Gail Cummings-Danson, State University of New York at Albany.

Eligibility Committee: Ronald W. Maestas, New Mexico Highlands University; Bethyna Ann Lawrence, Wingate University; J. Anthony Capon, University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown.

Committee on Infractions: Jody Mooradian, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Les Brinson, North Carolina Central University; William J. Weidner, Ashland University; Frederick B. Lacey, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene and MacRae (representing general public).

Legislation Committee: Paul H. Engelmann, Central Missouri State University; Sharon E. Taylor, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; Dede M. Allen, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Membership Committee: Penny Clayton, Drury College; Donald W. Lyons, Kentucky State University; Doug Palmer, University of West Florida; Mary T. Gardner, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Thomas E. Spicer, Fort Hays State University.

Student-athlete committee

The Presidents Council also ratified the appointment of student-athletes to vacancies on the new 24-member Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Nominations for the vacancies were reviewed by a group consisting of four members of the Division II Nominating Committee and three Division II members of the current NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

That group's recommendations were approved by the Management Council and the Presidents Council.

All eight Division II members of the current Student-Athlete Advisory Committee agreed to continue service on the new Division II committee.

They will be joined by the following new members (as well as a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference representative still to be named):

Robyn Nicole Allman, New Mexico Highlands University; Heather Leigh Andrews, Missouri Southern State College; Darren Eugene Beers, St. Michael's College; Greg Clark, Kennesaw State University; Brett Evilsizor, Presbyterian College; Daniel L. Fisher, Northern State University; Tara Fontana, California State University, San Bernardino; Shannon LeBlanc, University of Massachusetts at Lowell; Kevin Michael Listerman, Northern Kentucky University; Mitchell A. McNear, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Elizabeth Pelezo, Delta State University; Candace Phifer, Pfeiffer University; Julie Saylor, West Texas A&M University; Adrienne Tinch, Clark Atlanta University; and David Kent Williams, Fairmont State College.

A complete committee roster will be published in the August 4 issue of the News

The new Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will meet with the Division II Management Council July 27 in Denver in the first Division II "student-athlete summit." The summit meeting is the method that has been adopted in Division II for involving student-athletes in the legislative process, in addition to the SAAC's traditional role at the annual Convention.

Association-wide committees

The Division II Nominating Committee also recommended nominees for Division II positions on the Association-wide Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee. Those nominations were approved by the Management Council and ratified by the Presidents Council, and remain subject to approval by the new Executive Committee.

The appointees:

Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee: David Y. Thomas, California State University, Los Angeles.

Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct: Ed Harris, West Texas A&M University.

A Division II vacancy remains on the Association-wide Olympic Sports Liaison Committee but is expected to be filled soon.