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 council member is asked to serve on a committee. The committees for the 2024-2025 academic year are listed 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 GNAC SAAC CC members set the frequency and agenda of meetings. 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 and offer 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	Senior	Adams, Mass.	Basketball
Anna Maria	Liam Bedenkop	Senior	Marson Mills, Mass.	Lacrosse
Colby-Sawyer	Heather Hanson	Senior	Barnstable, Mass.	Cross Country/Lacrosse/Track & Field
Dean	Nina Medeiros	Senior	Fairhaven, Mass.	Soccer/Lacrosse
Elms	Clement Kimani	Senior	Worcester, Mass.	Cross Country
Emmanuel	Tiffany Fischer	Junior	South River, N.J.	Basketball
Johnson & Wales	Harmony Chicoose	Senior	Regina, Saskatchewan	Ice Hockey
Lasell	Caitlyn Smith	Senior	Newington, Conn.	Field Hockey
Mitchell	Emily Reynolds	Senior	Somers, Conn.	Softball
New England College	Aurora Gutierrez-Macias	Junior	El Paso, TX	Volleyball
Norwich	Robby Carr	Junior	Amsterdam, N.Y.	Lacrosse
Regis	Bianca Burke	Senior	Cambridge, Mass.	Softball
Rivier	Rachel Symmes	Senior	Chugiak, Alaska	Ice Hockey
Saint Joseph's (Maine)	Michael Wearne	Senior	Ellington, Conn.	Baseball
Simmons	Sydney Gonyea	Senior	Lebanon, N.H.	Field Hockey
University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)	Janai Oliver	Senior	Hartford, Conn.	Basketball