INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Kristie Bowers, associate vice provost and director of athletics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), has been elected chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council, one of the NCAA's most influential leadership bodies responsible for shaping the future of Division III athletics.
 
Bowers will begin her term as chair following the 2027 NCAA Convention. In addition, the council elected her to serve as vice chair for the remainder of 2026, effective immediately. Joining Bowers in the council's leadership will be Patrick Summers, commissioner of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), who was elected vice chair and will also begin his term following next year's convention.
 
"It is an incredible honor to serve as Chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council," said Bowers. "I am grateful for the trust of my colleagues and excited to collaborate with fellow council members and NCAA staff as we help shape the future of Division III athletics. As higher education and intercollegiate athletics continue to evolve, our responsibility is to build on the strengths that define Division III while embracing thoughtful innovation that best serves our student-athletes and member institutions. I am proud to represent Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Liberty League in this role."
 
The NCAA Division III Management Council consists of 23 members representing a broad cross-section of Division III institutions and conferences, including athletics directors, presidents and chancellors, faculty athletics representatives, commissioners, student-athlete representatives, and other athletics administrators from across the country.
 
Reporting directly to the NCAA Division III Presidents Council, the Management Council is responsible for implementing policies adopted by the NCAA Board of Governors and the Presidents Council. The group also sponsors legislative proposals, interprets Division III bylaws, and provides leadership on key issues affecting Division III institutions while reviewing recommendations from committees and working groups throughout the division's governance structure.