Sept. 18, 2003

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, President of Southeast Missouri State University, has appointed Dr. Ed Leoni as the University's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and Chair of the University Athletics Committee.

Leoni will replace Dr. Georganne Syler who resigned at the end of the 2002-2003 school year.

"Institutional control is one of the key principles of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the Faculty Representative and athletics committee play significant roles in exercising that control," Dr. Dobbins said. "I appreciate Dr. Leoni's willingness to serve in this important capacity."

The appointment is for a three-year term ending August 31, 2006. By mutual agreement, the term may be extended for one additional three-year term.

Leoni is a professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation and has been a member of the athletics committee since 1999.

"First and foremost I respect and understand the unique challenges faced by our student-athletes today," Leoni said. "I have twenty-four years of experience working with student-athletes at Southeast and I have established a good working relationship with the present athletic administration. As a competitive athlete I am still competing today, therefore, I know first hand the dedication, demands and balance required of an athlete to be successful both on and off the field."

Leoni has a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and a Master of Science in Counseling and Educational Psychology and Therapeutic Recreation from SIU-Carbondale and a Doctorate in Park and Recreation Administration from Indiana University.

He has served as a professor at Southeast since 1992 and first joined the faculty in 1979. Leoni served on the Division I Athletic Affiliation Task Force in 1987 and was the Founding Chairperson of the Department of Health and Leisure.