The History of the GNAC SAAC Commissioner’s Council

In April 2018, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Commissioner’s Council was formed at the direction of the GNAC President’s Council. This initiative came about in support of the recommendation from the NCAA Conference Self-Study Guide (CSSG) Committee and in concert with the strategic goals of emphasizing student-athlete experience and student-athlete success. Each GNAC member institution has the opportunity to appoint one delegate.

Each member of the council is asked to serve on a committee. The committees for the 2023-2024 academic year include the following below. Additional committees may be added at the discretion of the GNAC CC.

1. Leadership Development and Sportsmanship

2. GNAC SAAC Website and Social Media

3. NCAA Convention & Legislation

4. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

5. Physical & Mental Health Committee

The frequency and the agenda of meetings are both set by the GNAC SAAC CC members. All 16 members of the GNAC SAAC CC are offered the opportunity to attend the annual NCAA Convention without cost to them or their school. The GNAC delegate on the NCAA National SAAC is selected from the GNAC SAAC Commissioner’s Council.

The Assistant to the Commissioner for Student-Athlete Experience and Student-Athlete Success serves as an advisor and an administrative assistant to the GNAC SAAC CC as well as the liaison between the GNAC SAAC CC and both the GNAC Athletic Directors Council and the GNAC Commissioner.

The student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee of student-athletes assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience. SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations, and policies that affect student-athletes lives. There is a SAAC at the institution, conference, and national levels.

School	Name	Year	Hometown	Sport
Albertus Magnus	Sharaya Keele	Junior	Adams, Mass.	Basketball
Anna Maria	Liam Bedenkop	Junior	Marson Mills, Mass.	Lacrosse
Anna Maria	Daniele Iaboni	Graduate	Whitby, ON	Soccer
Colby-Sawyer	Heather Hanson	Junior	Barnstable, Mass.	Lacrosse
Dean	Nina Medeiros	Junior	Fairhaven, Mass.	Soccer/Lacrosse
Elms	Clement Kimani	Junior	Worcester, Mass.	Basketball
Emmanuel	Sasha Hyacinthe	Senior	Stoughton, Mass.	Volleyball
Johnson & Wales	Harmony Chicoose	Junior	Regina, Saskatchewan	Ice Hockey
Lasell	Caitlyn Smith	Junior	Newington, Conn.	Field Hockey
Mitchell	Emily Reynolds	Junior	Somers, Conn.	Softball
New England College	Jason Mercado	Senior	Des Moines, Iowa	Golf
Norwich	Liliana Rolfe	Senior	Plainville, Mass.	Softball
Regis	Kristin Barrett	Senior	Plymouth, Mass.	Track & Field
Rivier	Rachel Symmes	Junior	Chugiak, Alaska	Ice Hockey
Saint Joseph's (Maine)	Michael Wearne	Junior	Ellington, Conn.	Baseball
Simmons	Sydney Gonyea	Junior	Lebanon, N.H.	Field Hockey
University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)	Janai Oliver	Junior	Hartford, Conn.	Basketball