CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Presidents Council has announced the hiring of Marie Stroman as the conference’s fourth full-time Commissioner. Stroman will be the first female to serve in this role for the A-R-C.
Dr. Mark Putnam, Presidents Council Chair and President of Central College, says, “I join with my colleagues on the Presidents Council in expressing our excitement that Marie will be joining us as our new commissioner. Her deep dedication to Division III athletics will ensure that our student-athletes continue to have an outstanding academic and athletic experience.”
Stroman brings a wealth of experience as the commissioner of the former Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) before a merger was completed with the United East at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year. In this role, Stroman coordinated 16 sports, including championship events, while supervising two full-time employees and additional part-time interns. Stroman served as the primary compliance contact between the NCAA and member schools. During her time with the CSAC, she always looked to provide opportunities to enhance the student-athlete experience, including, providing the opportunity for student-athletes to participate at the NCAA Convention.
Prior to her time with the CSAC, she served as the Associate Executive Director for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) for just over a decade.
Stroman has been active at the NCAA most recently going through the Pathway Program (2021-2022). She has attended the Gameday the DIII Way Ambassador Training in 2017 and 2019. Additionally, Stroman served as a mentor at the Student Immersion Program in 2017-2019. She also served on the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Committee.
Self-described as focused and deliberate, Stroman will continue to elevate the academic and athletic standards within the A-R-C. With her center-focus around student-athletes, the league will look to continue to enhance the student-athlete experience.
“The A-R-C is a top-notch league in the competitive Division III landscape. In my conversations with the Presidents Council and search advisory committee it became clear that this group is ready to elevate the profile of the A-R-C student-athlete experience,” Stroman says. “I want to thank President Putnam, Wartburg College President Rebecca Ehretsman, and the entire Presidents Council for entrusting me to bring that vision to life. I also commend the work that Keith Hackett has done in serving as interim commissioner over the past half year, and Deputy Commissioner Hannah Halverson and Sport Administration Assistant Ali Wilson for their exceptional work during this leadership transition.”
A native of Chaska, Minnesota, Stroman is excited to get back closer to home. While a student-athlete at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she was active on National SAAC where she represented student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), while a volleyball student-athlete. Stroman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Educational Studies from Macalester and her Master of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership at the University of Washington.
“My family and I are thrilled to transition back to the Midwest.” Stroman continues, “while it is bittersweet to be leaving the place where my husband and I have cultivated our careers in intercollegiate athletics, we can't wait to integrate our life into the rich legacy of schools in the Iowa and surrounding area.”
Stroman is actively involved with College Sport Communicators (CSC), Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA), and Women Leaders in College Sports.
The A-R-C Presidents Council and Conference Staff would like to thank Hackett for serving as the Interim Commissioner over the last seven months.
Stroman, her husband, Logan, and their three children, Levi, Layla and Mia, will make the move to Iowa as her first official day with the league will be December 1.