The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee elected new leadership during its NCAA Convention meeting this week in San Antonio, including naming Simon Fraser women's basketball senior Emma Kramer as chair. The committee also elected its two representatives on the Division II Management Council.
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference's representative on Division II SAAC, Kramer will take over the chair role held the past year by Kentucky Wesleyan football's Wiley Cain. Kramer will serve a one-year term as the committee's chair.
"Being elected as the chair of Division II national SAAC is an incredible honor, and I am so excited to serve the student-athletes of Division II in this role. I am extremely grateful for the confidence that my fellow committee members have in me to take over this position from the wonderful Wiley Cain," Kramer said. "I am excited to continue the work and practices initiated during Wiley's term but also to establish my own unique perspectives and strategies to best serve national SAAC and its members. My ultimate goal as the chair of the Division II national SAAC is to support my fellow committee members and facilitate impactful discussions that will lead to improvements for the entire student body. I will strive to represent every member of our committee, as well as all Division II student-athletes, equitably. I want to apply my passion for improving the student-athlete experience and the 'Total Package Student-Athlete' brand Division II is so fondly known for. Ultimately, it is my hope that I can continue the amazing work that the previous national SAAC chairs have done while also making the experience my own and leaving a lasting positive impact on this committee."
From the only NCAA school in Canada, Kramer was also chosen as one of the two Division II student-athlete representatives on the Management Council. Corbin Thaete, a Cal State San Marcos men's soccer player, was re-elected to serve on the Management Council.
Kramer will be joined on Division II SAAC's Executive Board by three others. Molly Hansen, a swimmer at Montevallo, was named vice chair. Cullen Dore, a runner at Francis Marion, was selected as the group's external communications coordinator. Maggie Langheim, a former softball player at Mars Hill, and Kara Amos, a Missouri Southern State softball student-athlete, will serve in the internal operations coordinator role in staggered terms. Langheim will serve in the role until her term on Division II SAAC ends at the end of April, when Amos will take over the position.
"I am beyond excited to be working with some newly elected individuals that will be assisting the committee with me. Molly Hansen, Maggie Langheim, Kara Amos and Cullen Dore are some of the most hard-working, passionate and driven people I have had the pleasure of meeting," Kramer said. "I cannot wait to see what national SAAC is able to accomplish this year, and I look forward to representing all the wonderful student-athletes that make up Division II."
Learn more about Division II SAAC, its members and the work they do at their page on ncaa.org.
