St. Mary’s College of Maryland President, Joseph R. Urgo, has been appointed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Presidents Council. Urgo has been a member of the NCAA’s President Advisory Group since 2011. He will serve a two-year term on the council, starting in May 2013, and will be eligible to be re-appointed to a four-year term in 2015.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the more than 400 NCAA Division III institutions throughout the country,” said President Urgo. “The NCAA’s long-standing history of supporting and promoting academic excellence among student-athletes is a core value I couldn’t be more proud to uphold. I look forward to my new responsibilities as a member of this esteemed council.”
Urgo will be filling a newly created slot following the council’s formal legislative approval (at the NCAA Convention) to expand the current 15-member group to 18. Current council members advocated for the expansion to address membership growth and enhance the enrollment and the representation of public and private institutions, as well as the gender composition of the council.
“I am delighted that Dr. Urgo has been nominated to join the Division III Presidents Council and grateful for his willingness to serve,” said Dan Dutcher, NCAA vice president of Division III. “The Council plays a crucial leadership role in the division’s policy, budgetary and legislative processes. Joe’s extensive educational and administrative background, as well as his current service on the division’s Presidents Advisory Group, make him an ideal candidate for Council service.”
The Presidents Council is Division III’s primary governance body, overseeing the Division III Management Council and the division’s committee structure. The Presidents Council members are elected in balloting open to all presidents and chancellors at Division III member institutions.
Division III is the largest of the NCAA divisions with 444 active and provisional member institutions.
St. Mary’s College is a member of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). CAC is a nine-member coalition of four-year, co-educational institutions promoting intercollegiate athletic competition among schools located in close geographic proximity that have similar educational and athletic philosophies.