Tom George, chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, was elected chairman of the president’s council of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the athletic conference in which UMSL competes. The two-year term began immediately.
“The conference appreciates the willingness of Dr. George to serve as the chair of the president’s council of the GLVC, “ said Jim Naumovich, commissioner of the league. “He has been an active participant at council meetings since he was named chancellor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and will provide excellent leadership as we move forward as a league.”
In his leadership role, George will head up the governing organization made up of the 15 college and university presidents in the GLVC. As the council president he also will represent the conference at NCAA meetings with leaders of the 22 Division II leagues in the U.S.
George, an enthusiastic fan of UMSL’s 11 men’s and women’s teams, said he was thrilled with his newest leadership role.
“I am honored to serve as chair of the GLVC, which is one of the best Division II conferences in the nation,” said George. “This is an especially exciting time for the conference as we are expanding its size and the number of sports offered across the campuses. Our students demonstrate the highest level of excellence in academic performance, competition in sports and service to the community.”
The GLVC was established in 1978 and is one of the largest NCAA Division II conferences in the country. The GLVC includes 15 teams from five Midwestern states. In addition to UMSL, the members of the GLVC are: Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.), Drury University (Springfield, Mo.), Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro, Ky.), Lewis University (Romeoville, Ill.), Maryville University (St. Louis) Missouri University of Science & Technology (Rolla, Mo.), Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights, Ky.), Quincy University (Quincy, Ill.), Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.), Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, Ind.), University of Illinois at Springfield, University of Indianapolis, University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, Ind.) and University of Wisconsin-Parkside (Kenosha, Wis.).
The GLVC currently sponsors championships in 17 sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and volleyball.
