Three new members have been elected to the Division II Presidents Council, effective at the end of the 2003 Convention.

They are Arthur F. Kirk Jr., president of Saint Leo University (Region 2); James E. Lyons Sr., president of California State University, Dominguez Hills (Region 4); and Kathryn A. Martin, president of the University of Minnesota Duluth (at large).

The Division II Presidents Council elected the new members at its October 31 meeting. At that time, the Council also ratified the appointments of five new Division II Management Council members. They are Thomas J. Brown, commissioner, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Deborah Williamson-Taylor, athletics director, St. Edward's University, Heartland Conference; Jill Willson, athletics director, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Lone Star Conference; Roger Thomas, athletics director, University of North Dakota, North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; and Gwendolyn Reeves, athletics director, Fort Valley State University, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Kirk

Arthur F. Kirk Jr. assumed the presidency of Saint Leo University in January 1997.

He received his bachelor's degree in history and his master's degree in administration and supervision from Kean College. He holds his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick.

Kirk began his administrative career at Kean before moving to Somerset College, where he directed the college's off-campus, noncredit and curriculum development programs. In 1979, he became vice-president of College Misericordia, where he was chief operating officer.

In 1984, he became president of Keuka College in New York. During the last year of his presidency, Keuka was listed in Money magazine as one of the 25 best buys for education in small colleges.

Since Kirk's arrival at Saint Leo, the university's enrollment has increased and the graduation rate of student-athletes increased significantly. Also, a new management information system now serves the university's 9,000 students at 17 extension locations.

Lyons

James Earl Lyons Sr. became president of California State University, Dominguez Hills, in July 1999.

He received a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's degree in student personnel from the University of Connecticut, where he also received his doctorate in professional higher education administration. In spring 2000, he received the Neag School of Education Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater for his significant impact on education, his inspiration on others in their field, and for his considerable accomplishments and continuing level of achievement.

Before assuming the presidency at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Lyons was president of Jackson State University; president of Bowie State University; vice-president, dean of academic affairs and professor of education at Delaware State College; vice-
president for academic affairs and professor of education at Barber-Scotia College in North Carolina; and assistant to the vice-chancellor for academic affairs and director of summer school at Fayetteville State University. He also has held key administrative positions at Kentucky State University and at the University of Connecticut.

Martin

Kathryn A. Martin became chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth in August 1995 after five years at the University of Illinois, Champaign, where she served as dean of the college of fine and applied arts and co-director of the National Arts Education Research Center.

Martin also served as the founding dean of the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University (Michigan) from 1986 to 1990 and as dean of the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts Department of Drama/Dance at the University of Montana from 1979 to 1986.

She is past chair of the National Coalition of Education in the Arts, a coalition of 27 arts organizations with interest in arts in education. She previously chaired the Indiana Arts Commission (1972-79) and has served as president of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans and as chair of the Arts in Education Committee of that organization.

She holds an B.A. from Saint Mary of the Woods College, an M.A. from Indiana State University and an Ed.D. from the University of San Francisco.

Brown

Tom Brown is in his 11th season as commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Besides his position as commissioner, Brown has operated his own consulting firm since 1982.

Before starting his own firm, Brown served as president of Northwood University from 1979 to 1982. His presidency capped off a long association with Northwood that began in 1963 when he joined the institution as an assistant professor of mathematics, athletics director, business manager and men's basketball coach.

Other positions Brown held at Northwood were administrative assistant to the president, director of finance and operations, executive vice-president, and chancellor and chief operating officer.

Brown received his master's in physical education and mathematics from Central Michigan University, where he played basketball and baseball.

Reeves

Gwendolyn Reeves is in her first year as athletics director at Fort Valley State University.

In 1989, Reeves was named as the coordinator of Fort Valley State's Wellness Program and was named senior woman administrator in 1992. Reeves also served as interim director of athletics during the 1997-98 season before being named associate director in 1998.

In 2000, Reeves was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators as one of its administrators of the year. She also has been active in NCAA affairs, recently completing an assignment as a member of the South Region Women's Basketball Advisory Committee.

Reeves holds a bachelor's degree in zoology and a master's degree in mental health counseling from Fort Valley State.

Taylor

Deborah Williamson-Taylor is in her first year as athletics director at St. Edward's University.

Taylor first came to St. Edward's as head volleyball coach in 1990. She has been an athletics administrator for St. Edward's since 1995 and was promoted to associate athletics director in 1999.

A former all-American volleyball player, Taylor received a bachelor's degree in education from Southwestern University (Texas). During her tenure at Southwestern, Taylor established herself as one of the top volleyball players in school history. Her university inducted her into its athletics hall of honor in 1990. Taylor subsequently earned her master's in physical education and educational administration at Southwest Texas State University.

She was honored as the 1993 NAIA District IV Female Administrator of the Year and 1997 NAIA Southwest Region Female Administrator of the Year.

Thomas

Roger Thomas is in his fourth year as the University of North Dakota athletics director.

During 2001-02, he led North Dakota athletics into one of the most exciting years in the department's history. The opening of two new athletics facilities -- the Engelstad Arena for ice hockey and the Alerus Center for football -- created excitement on campus and in the local community. Also in 2001-02, North Dakota finished seventh nationally in the NACDA Directors' Cup competition, won the NCAA Division II championship in football, and finished second in men's swimming and diving.

North Dakota also had five Verizon Academic All-Americans in 2001-02, the highest single-season total in school history.

Thomas became the 14th athletics director in North Dakota history in July 1999, when he stepped down as football coach. It marked the end of a 15-season head coaching career -- 13 at North Dakota. Overall, Thomas was 91-66-2 as a collegiate head coach.

Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and history at Augustana College (Illinois) in 1969 and earned a master's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1972.

Willson

Jill Willson is in her 10th year with the Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics department and her first as athletics director.

She served as associate athletics director for two years before being named as director. Before her role as an administrator, she was head women's basketball coach for eight seasons.

One of Willson's Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball teams went 23-7 and earned its second NCAA regional appearance.

Before coming to Kingsville, Willson served as an assistant basketball coach at Wayland Baptist University for three years.

At West Texas A&M University, she played for one season before becoming a student assistant coach for two years.

While at West Texas State, the women's team won three Lone Star Conference championships, reached the NCAA Division II national finals, made the regional finals and was the regional quarterfinalist the other season.