Abe L. Frank, former vice-president and counsel at Citigroup, Inc., has been selected to head the NCAA's federal relations staff.

Frank replaces Doris Dixon, who left the Association last spring to assume duties as president of VSA Arts, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization.

The NCAA federal relations office has been in place since 1995, and that staff has been instrumental in monitoring activities in Congress that are important to intercollegiate athletics and developing relationships with other higher education organizations. Frank will begin his duties in December.

The NCAA also hired Lisa Kenard, former director of government relations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as assistant director of federal relations. Kenard began her duties earlier this month.

Frank, who also was the deputy director of state government relations for Citigroup, served as an advocate for priority banking and insurance issues to state governors, legislators and industry officials.

Before his tenure at Citigroup, which is recognized as one of the nation's largest financial services corporations, Frank worked with the Council of State Governments (CSG) from 1990 to 1998, the last five years as director. As general counsel, Frank reviewed and approved all CSG affiliated organizations' contracts, including consulting agreements, leases, transportation, entertainment and lodging contracts.

Before that, Frank served as an assistant director for the Academy for State and Local Government in Washington, D.C., from 1987 to 1990. He worked for the U.S. Department of Labor in the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from 1985 to 1987, and he was in general practice with a Detroit law firm from 1984 to 1985.

Frank earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Central Michigan University in 1981 and his juris doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1984. He has licenses from the Bar of the District of Columbia, the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, the State Bar of Virginia and the State Bar of Michigan.