Announcing the 2017-2018 NIRSA Committee Chairs

This March, NIRSA, the NIRSA Foundation, and the NIRSA Championship Series finalized committee appointments for the 2017-2018 year. NIRSA committees perform an important role by focusing their work on specific topics relevant to both the collegiate recreation profession and the Association.

Nearly 250 NIRSA members applied to serve on committees and work teams this year, showing a tremendous amount of support for the Association. It comes as no surprise, given our profession’s focus on students, that the highest level of interest was in committees related to student development: Career Opportunities Center, Student Professional Development, and William Wasson Student Awards Committees.

NIRSA’s abilities and achievements are a direct result of the incredible, dedicated volunteers who tirelessly strive to help the Association realize its vision of inspiring healthy people and communities worldwide. These individuals—who give so much time and talent to NIRSA and collegiate recreation—are the reason the field has come so far. They are the guarantee of great things to come.

Congratulations to the newly-appointed 2017-2018 committee and work team chairs!

Annual Conference Program Committees

The leadership year for the NIRSA and NIRSA Foundation committees runs from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018. Please join us in welcoming these NIRSA leaders to their new roles.

Career Opportunities Center	Chair: Owen McFadden, Furman University
Conference Expo	Co-chairs: Matt Horst, Georgia Southern University
Conference Expo	Co-chairs: Blair Schuyler, University of Kansas
Conference Program	Chair: Becky Todd, University of Arkansas
Student Professional Development	Chair: Jean Holt, Old Dominion University

NIRSA Awards Committees

Creative Excellence Awards	Chair: Stephanne Musser, The Ohio State University
Honor Award	Chair: Mick Deluca, UCLA
NIRSA Annual Service Award	Chair: Stephanie McAlpine, The University of Texas at Arlington
Outstanding Sports Facilities Awards	Chair: Silvia Chan, University of Connecticut
William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Awards	Chair: Chris Fiocchi, Clemson University

NIRSA Governance Committees

Audit & Finance	Chair: Ken Morton, Stephen F Austin University
Bylaws	Chair: Stan Shingles, Central Michigan University
Nominations & Appointments	Chair: Ken Morton, Stephen F Austin University
Policy & Legislation	Chair: Mark Ritter, University of South Carolina-Upstate
Research & Assessment	Chair: Jessica Kiss, MEd, Bowling Green State University

NIRSA Professional Development Committees

NIRSA Intramural Sports Institute	Chair: Jason Linsenmeyer, Oklahoma State University
NIRSA Aquatic Institute	Chair: Bethany Bower, Georgetown University
NIRSA Fitness & Wellness Institute	Chair: Steven Trotter, Virginia Tech
NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute	Co-Chairs: Katy Locke, The University of Tennessee
NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute	Co-Chairs: Tina Villard, Rice University

NIRSA Foundation Committees

NIRSA Foundation Scholarships	Chair: Jen Gudaz, EdD, Cornell University
NIRSA Foundation Stipends	Chair: Shomari Kee, Florida Gulf Coast University

NIRSA Championship Series Work Teams

The service year for NIRSA Championship Series runs from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018. The following appointments have been made for the 2017-2018 year.

NIRSA Championship Series: Exec	Chair: Oscee Wheatfall, Texas A & M University-College Station
NIRSA Championship Series: Exec	Vice Chair: Randall Ford, The University of Texas at Austin
NIRSA Championship Series: Exec	2nd Vice Chair: Scott Flickinger, Cornell University
NIRSA Championship Series: Assessment	Chair: April Flint, Emory University
NIRSA Championship Series: Basketball	Chair: Megan Morris, Loyola University Chicago
NIRSA Championship Series: Brand Management	Chair: Nicole Widmer, San Diego State University
NIRSA Championship Series: Club Basketball	Chair: Drew Cantwell, Louisiana State University
NIRSA Championship Series: Flag Football	Chair: Mark Comer, University of Baltimore
NIRSA Championship Series: Soccer	Chair: Laura Thomas, Texas Tech University
NIRSA Championship Series: Standards of Competition	Chair: Keegan Ashbee, University of Florida
NIRSA Championship Series: Student/Professional Development	Chair: Arianne Judy, University of Notre Dame
NIRSA Championship Series: Tennis	Chair: Gary Cahen, University of Central Florida

Communities of Practice Conveners

NIRSA Communities of Practice are online professional networks designed for discussion surrounding a given topic. They are intended to accumulate knowledge and resources that become intellectual assets for NIRSA members while simultaneously increasing the connection points between members and the volunteer leadership of the Association.

Each community of practice has a volunteer convener to help facilitate discussions and manage the resource library. The conveners will use their respective Communities of Practice to accomplish their charges.

Aquatics Communities of Practice	Convener: Christopher Crume, Denison University
Facilities Communities of Practice	Convener: Candice Douglas, Western Kentucky University
Fitness Communities of Practice	Convener: Taylor Kent, Saint Ambrose University
Health & Wellbeing Communities of Practice	Convener: Carrie Baines, Virginia Commonwealth University
Intramural Sports Communities of Practice	Convener: Jarrode Davis, The Ohio State University
Marketing Communities of Practice	Convener: Connie Kottmann, Virginia Commonwealth University
Outdoor Recreation Communities of Practice	Convener: Abe Cross, Lindsey Wilson College
Risk Management Communities of Practice	Convener: Michael Howard, Duke University
Sustainability Communities of Practice	Convener: Linda Clauss, California State University-East Bay

You can find details on other NIRSA volunteer leaders for the 2017-2018 leadership year in the news article “Congratulations to NIRSA’s newly-elected leaders.”