The leader of NCAA President Myles Brand’s alma mater hailed the 1964 graduate of Rensselaer as a “loyal son and devoted friend” who strongly supported the school, including through his recent service as a trustee.

President Shirley Ann Jackson remembered Brand in a written statement as a “champion of academic reform, fiscal responsibility and student-athlete well-being” while also noting recent work benefiting the institution.

Brand, who died Wednesday, earned a bachelor of science in philosophy at Rensselaer.

“The news of Dr. Brand’s passing comes at a time when we are preparing to celebrate the dedication of the East Campus Athletic Village, a project which Dr. Brand strongly supported, and in which he took particular interest and pride,” she wrote.

“Dr. Brand was an especially active volunteer for the recently completed ‘Renaissance at Rensselaer: Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,’ serving as chair of the athletics fund-raising initiative to support the new East Campus Athletic Village. At its groundbreaking in August 2007, he said, ‘The playing field teaches great life lessons — chief among them — personal commitment to excellence and the discipline needed to live up to that commitment each and every day.’ ”

Brand participated in basketball and lacrosse during his freshman year Rensselaer. He also was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and served on the staff of the campus yearbook, The Transit.

He was elected to Rensselaer’s board of trustees in 2004. He is a member of the school’s alumni hall of fame and received various honors there, including an honorary doctorate of human letters.