WINTHROP, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Doug Chin as its Senior Associate Commissioner/Director of Media Relations. He is the first person in conference history to hold the position. He is scheduled to begin his duties with the GNAC on June 1.
Chin's hiring marks his third stint with the GNAC as he broke into the industry as an intern serving as multimedia specialist in 2012. After a brief time as the head women's soccer coach at former GNAC member Pine Manor College, he returned to the conference office as the Assistant to the Commissioner in 2014, a position funded by the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Grant. One of the highlights from his time as GNAC Assistant to the Commissioner was his coordination of one of the conference's hallmark events, the GNAC Professional Development Seminar (PDS), one of the most highly-acclaimed conference-level professional development programs in both New England and across Division III.
"I would like to thank the search committee – Erica Schuling, Jonathan Harper, and Joe Walsh – for their hard work through this process," said Chin. "I am thrilled to be returning to the GNAC as its senior associate commissioner. Without the start that the GNAC gave me, I would not be where I am today. I have maintained great relationships with [Commissioner] Joe [Walsh] and many of the athletic directors and coaches in the conference and I look forward to working with them, along with Joe and [GNAC Assistant to the Commissioner] Joni [Williamson], to provide the best possible intercollegiate athletic experience for our student-athletes."
Following Chin's initial term with the conference, he spent a year as the sports information director at Pine Manor, where he was responsible for the promotion, publication, and statistics recording for all seven of the Gators' varsity teams. He also managed, trained, and supervised PMC's game day staff.
Unable to stay away from working in a league office, however, the Dedham, Mass. native departed Pine Manor in 2015 to join the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) as its Assistant Commissioner. In 2018, he became the first person in conference history to be promoted to the role of Associate Commissioner, the position he held until leaving to rejoin the GNAC. In his eight years with the CCC, Chin served primarily as the Director of Media Relations, responsible for coverage of a membership that currently includes 10 full member institutions and 20 championship sports. In addition to his media relations duties, Chin was also responsible for sport and championship administration. He served as the conference liaison to all of the league's coaches' groups, its sports information directors, and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"I will be forever grateful for my time in the CCC," said Chin. "With the help of Commissioner [Gregg M.] Kaye, the conference athletic directors, coaches, administrators, and student-athletes, I was able to grow and develop a true understanding of what it means to be an NCAA Division III member. In my eight years with the conference, I have built many relationships that I hope to continue as I remain in the region. There are many people within the conference who I consider, not only mentors and colleagues, but friends, and I look forward to seeing the conference's continuous rise."
While serving as CCC Associate Commissioner, Chin also took an active role at the national level. He is a member of the Division III Assistant/Associate Commissioners Group (DIIIACG), a subunit of the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA), on its Championships Committee. He has also represented the CCC as a member of the DIII Men's Tennis Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) and is currently serving a term on the DIII Membership Committee, which he will continue in his new role with the GNAC. He has represented the Association as a site representative three times, first at the 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Quarterfinal, then more recently at the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey First Round and the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Quarterfinal.
In recognition of his professional growth and service to the Association, Chin was recently selected as one of the five Division III (21 in total) members of the 2023 NCAA Pathway Program cohort. The Pathway Program is designed to elevate senior-level athletics administrators to the next step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. The year-long program is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in any division.
Chin also sports an impressive academic resume. He earned his bachelor's degree in (broadcast) journalism from Boston University (BU) in 2010 before completing two master's degrees at Western New England University (WNEU) in 2018 and 2020. He first earned his Master of Sports Leadership and Coaching diploma before continuing on to complete his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He is currently 21 credits away from completing his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) from Northeastern University. He plans to complete his action research study on the troubles facing small, private colleges that use an enrollment-driven business model and ways that an athletic conference (especially one at the NCAA Division III level) can help its member schools achieve their enrollment goals.
GNAC: CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Chin's hiring is also the latest step for GNAC in its effort to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as he is one of only two people of Asian descent serving in a full-time role in an NCAA Division III Conference office.
Chin also acknowledged the significance of his hiring coming in the midst of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
"While I personally hope that my skills and talent alone are what qualify me for jobs, the fact that I am one of the very few Asian-Americans serving in a senior leadership role in college athletics in not lost on me," said Chin. "It was a very happy coincidence that the next step in my professional career came during AAPI Heritage Month and I hope that my career progression allows me to continue to advocate for people with similar backgrounds to mine."
Not only does the GNAC have a history of supporting DEI efforts, it also has a knack for finding talent. The conference has been awarded the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minorities and Women's Grant five times and the hires have gone on to fill very impressive positions.
In 2009, Dr. Vaughn A. Calhoun, Ed.D (2009-10) was hired as the GNAC Assistant Commissioner through the grant and is currently working as Assistant Vice President & Dean for the Center of Academic Success at Seton Hall. Additionally, one entire NCAA Division III conference office staff, the Atlantic East Conference based in Pennsylvania, is comprised of former GNAC NCAA interns with Jessica Huntley (2007-09) serving as Commissioner and Rebecca Mullen (2014-15) serving as Assistant Commissioner. Also finding success after the GNAC is Annie Jenkins (2017-19) who now works as the Director of Athletic Business Operations at Division I UMass Lowell.
Aside from participants in the NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women's Grant Program, former GNAC Compliance Consultant Chris Brown, PhD moved on from his post within the conference to become the top executive in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as Commissioner.
"The GNAC is in a constant search for the most talented people to work in our conference office," said Walsh. "The NCAA's commitment to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration through grant funding has allowed us to do that, while also making sure that we are giving a voice to those who have been historically underrepresented. We were very happy when Doug came our way over a decade ago and we are happy to welcome him back."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"I look forward to working with Doug in his new role, especially in the area of publicizing the hard work of our GNAC student-athletes in competition and in the classroom. His appointment strengthens the conference office through his previous vast experiences both in the conference office and on campus. Doug has excelled in his career which was built on the foundation of the opportunity that was originally gained through his internship with Commissioner Walsh. He now returns poised to assist with guiding our conference to the next level."
- Jonathan Harper, Director of Athletics, Rivier University (Chair of the GNAC Executive Committee)
"I am thrilled for the GNAC to have Doug return to the conference office to serve in this new role. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting Division III student athletes on the field, in the classroom and as leaders of their local communities. I am confident that the expertise he is bringing back to the GNAC will elevate the student athlete experience to a whole new level."
- Erica Schuling, Director of Athletics & Recreation, Simmons University (Vice Chair of the GNAC Executive Committee)
"Doug is one of the top leaders among conference administrators at any level. Highly respected across Division III nationally and regionally, Doug's passion for serving student-athletes, conference membership, and the greater good across college athletics, coupled with a tremendous educational background and a vast skill set are tremendous assets that enhance any athletic conference in a myriad of ways. He is tireless, driven, and extremely well positioned to embody and personify the conference's mission of community, sportsmanship, and integrity. I am thrilled that the GNAC leadership and membership recognizes Doug's tremendous talent and work ethic, allowing this exceptional person to return to his GNAC roots and be recognized with an opportunity to continue serving Division III and the New England region that occupies a special place in his heart."
- Gregg M. Kaye, Departing Commissioner, CCC (Doug Chin Supervisor)
"The GNAC is the Division III standard for promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. While working with the GNAC, I saw first-hand its commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within his league and its approach to positioning team members to help diversify the entire Division. The hiring of Doug Chin furthers this commitment. The GNAC has truly identified a star in Doug Chin, and I look forward to watching the league flourish."
- Chris Brown, PhD, Commissioner, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Former GNAC Staff)
"Doug and I both started our careers with the GNAC in 2014 and have been colleagues and friends ever since. I am excited to watch him return to where his career started to continue to work and enrich the experience for student-athletes. Working with the GNAC it was clear the support and commitment to a diverse staff as well as to the NCAA mission to continue to grow and diversify the world of collegiate athletics."
- Rebecca Mullen, Assistant Commissioner, Atlantic East Conference (Former GNAC Staff/Doug Chin Colleague)
"I met Doug when I was at Simmons and was immediately struck by his enthusiasm and commitment to student-athletes and Division III. As an Asian-American also pursuing a career in collegiate athletics, it was comforting to see representation. Commissioner Walsh has always been dedicated to the student-athlete experience and providing opportunities to those with a passion for this industry. I am glad Doug found his way back to the GNAC and grateful for all the hard work Commissioner Walsh puts forth that folks like Doug, Rebecca, Chris, Vaughn, and I are able flourish from."
- Nafeesa Connolly, Associate Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, Boston University (Former GNAC Student-Athlete/National SAAC Representative)
(Photo credit: Leanna Puccio - https://www.leannapuccioportfolio.com/)
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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