Aug. 29, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
He's represented Illinois State student-athletes at the local and regional stage, but now former Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president Ryan Brown will have a national presence, as the men's golfer has been selected to represent the Missouri Valley Conference as the SAAC representative to the NCAA.
Brown's appointment began in August when he was nominated by the Valley to the NCAA Division I national SAAC selection committee. Three student-athletes from the 10 Valley member institutions were nominated to the national post. The NCAA then votes and appoints representatives, based on their diversity needs (race and sport) and the nominee's qualifications. The Staunton, Ill., native, joins just 30 other student-athletes from each of the 31 NCAA Division I conferences.
Brown, who will serve a two-year term, will help to shape the proposed legislation, while offering input about policies concerning Division I athletics.
Serving as the Illinois State SAAC president during the 2005-06 school year, Brown and current SAAC president, softball player Jackie Williams, currently represent the views of ISU student-athletes while meeting with other representatives from Valley schools. Brown helped to explain his duties and new appointment as the MVC's SAAC ambassador.
"With the MVC, Jackie and I take the views of ISU to the conference level to make sure Illinois State is well-represented and our opinions are heard," said Brown. "Now, it's more of a broad spectrum. I'm taking the views of the all the student-athletes in the entire Missouri Valley Conference and bringing them to the national level.
"I'm the voice from the Valley to the NCAA," continued Brown. "I just hope to cast the Valley in the best possible light and be a respected liaison between the two groups. With the NCAA being at the national level, that's where all the decisions are being made. So, I feel like I need to make the Valley's views heard to help make an impact on a larger stage. "
Mary Mulvenna, Missouri Valley Conference Director of Compliance/Community Relations, believes that Brown truly understands the meaning of his appointment.
"Ryan was our leading candidate throughout the selection process," said Mulvenna. "His character is outstanding and he his very highly noted among his peers in SAAC. Ryan understands the issues we discuss from both sides. He can think from the administrators' perspective and speak on behalf of the student-athletes. I can't think of a better candidate to represent our conference."
Brown, who will open the fall season with the men's golf team on Sept. 9-10 at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, is honored by his new position and knows the commitment and pressure he will endure.
"The day I found out about this opportunity I was really excited," said Brown. "But then I sat down and sent over 70 e-mails in two hours, so I know this is going to be a huge commitment. I'm still extremely honored and happy to be doing this and representing Illinois State and the Valley. Being the Valley's representative will be more work than being ISU's SAAC representative because I'm speaking for so many more student-athletes."
