Jones named to NCAA Leadership Council
06/05/2008 | 12:00:00 | General
June 5, 2008
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale Associate Athletic Director Kathy Jones has been appointed to the new NCAA Division I Leadership Council following her three years of service on the Division I Management Council representing the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Leadership Council is part of a new governance structure for Division I set to become effective September 1, 2008. The restructuring involved the elimination of the Management Council that reports directly to the Division I Board of Directors and the creation of two separate councils, a Leadership Council and a Legislative Council. The three cabinets that reported to the Management Council will become six cabinets in the new structure with more specificity of purpose.
The Leadership Council will be the primary advisory group to the Board of Directors on strategic and policy issues, and its members will be expected to have a national focus in their deliberations. The Legislative Council will take on most of the legislative functions currently performed by the Management Council. Jones is in her ninth year at SIU and was one of the Missouri Valley Conference nominees for the new governance structure. She is one of seven females on the 31-member Leadership Council and the only associate athletic director/SWA. Most of the council members consist of athletic directors and conference commissioners.
"This structure will give NCAA Division I governance a more strategic focus," Jones said. "I'm excited to be a part of the discussion of the broader policy issues affecting intercollegiate athletics."
Dr. Harold Bardo, the Southern Illinois University Faculty Athletic Representative was appointed to the Amateurism Cabinet. Along with the Amateurism Cabinet, there will be Cabinets for the following areas: Championship, Academic, Administration, Recruiting, and Awards, Benefits, Financial Aid.
"Southern Illinois University and the MVC are fortunate to have representatives from our institutions behind the decisions that are being made," SIU Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said. "The choices that the governing body for the NCAA make not only affect us, but all college athletics."
Along with Jones and Bardo, Assistant Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Mary Mulvenna will serve on the Legislative Council, Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen will be a member of the Championship Cabinet, UNI's Faculty Athletic Representative Anne Woodrick will serve on the Academic Cabinet and Indiana State AD Ron Prettyman will be a member of the Recruiting Cabinet.
According to Missouri Valley Conference Senior Associate Commissioner Patty Viverito, "Kathy brings great experience at the national, conference and institutional levels to the Leadership Council and will be able to provide that insight into the important issues the Council will study."
Issues that the Legislative Council will look into include Division I membership requirements and exploring ways to grow a more diverse leadership.
