2021-22 Executive Board Announcement and YouTube Video: President Cindy Potter's Remarks
CoSIDA finalized its Executive Board of Directors for 2021-22 by filling one open position on Thursday. Katie Mucci, Missouri Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner for New Media and Technology, was selected by Executive Board vote to fill a one-year vacancy on the Board.
The opening was created when Executive Board member Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas Senior Associate Athletic Director/Public Relations, was elected as CoSIDA Third Vice President earlier in June. Trainor assumes the Third Vice President role after serving two years of his three-year Executive Board term.
By the CoSIDA constitution, if an Executive Board vacancy occurs after the annual general nominations and selection period, nominations are accepted and the new member is chosen by the existing Board. The slate of CoSIDA's Executive Board of Directors - with the one vacancy - was approved by membership vote during CoSIDA's annual business meeting on June 10th during the #CoSIDA21 virtual convention.
Within CoSIDA's revamped governance structure which was unveiled in the 2020-21 academic year, the size of the Executive Board has been reduced in size as Divisional Cabinets and Advisory Councils have been added as part of this new leadership structure.
This is the full CoSIDA Executive Board of Directors:
- President: Cindy Potter, Columbia College (Mo.) Senior Deputy Director of Athletics
- First Vice President: Jessica Poole, Chicago State Senior Associate Athlete Director for External Operations and Revenue Generation
- Second Vice President: John Paquette, Big East Conference Senior Associate Commissioner, Sports Media Relations
- Third Vice President: Kevin Trainor, Arkansas Senior Associate Athletic Director/Public Relations
- Past President: Sam Atkinson, Gallaudet University Associate Athletic Director for Communications
- Secretary: Jeff Hodges, North Alabama Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications
- Katie Mucci, Missouri Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner for New Media and Technology
- Danielle Percival, Piedmont College Director of Athletic Communications (term expires 2022)
- Lenny Reich, University of Mount Union Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director (term expires 2022)
- Michael Robles, California Community College Athletic Association Director of Sports Information and Communication (term expires 2022)
- Mary Beth Challoner, University of Toronto Manager, Events and Marketing (term expires 2023)
- Dan Ruede, University of New Haven Associate Director of Athletics for Strategic Communications (term expires 2023)
Potter is the first NAIA member to serve as CoSIDA President and the fifth female in the CoSIDA presidency role. She also is just the fifth representative of CoSIDA's College Division (comprised of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools) to become CoSIDA President. She follows Atkinson in that designation. He was the second sitting NCAA Division III President of the organization.
Poole will follow Potter as back-to-back female presidents for the first time in CoSIDA history. Poole also will be the first African-American female president in the organization's history.
Ex-Officio members are CoSIDA Executive Director Doug Vance, Associate Executive Director Will Roleson, Director of Professional Development & External Affairs Barb Kowal, Director of Membership Engagement Laurie Bollig, and Director of Creative Services Beau White. CoSIDA staff bios are found here.