Alabama State's President Dr. Ross Will Join The NCAA Division I Board Of Directors

The HBCU president will take a prominent role on the board handling future NCAA legislations.

Quarterback Andrew Body during an Alabama State University football practice / scrimmage on the ASU / Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) recently announced that Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., the President of Alabama State University, has been chosen as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors. He is currently a member of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. His term will officially commence on August 7, 2024.

The Board of Directors is the top governing body for Division I and is responsible for strategy, policy, legislation oversight, and division management. The Board is comprised of 20 presidents and chancellors: one from each of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences; 10 from the remaining 22 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Division I conferences; the chair of the NCAA Division I Council; one faculty athletics representative; one senior woman administrator representative and two student-athletes. 

"I'm extremely honored to serve on this board," said Dr. Ross. "The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is an essential and critical component of the NCAA governance structure, and its positive impact on the world of intercollegiate athletics can be seen daily. I look forward to working with the members of this Board to implement programs and initiatives that will enhance the overall student-athlete experience in all facets." 

Dr. Ross / Alabama State University

ABOUT PRESIDENT ROSS

Dr. Ross is currently in his fifth year as president of Alabama State University, assuming his alma mater's leadership role on October 3, 2017. His tenure has been marked by transformative and innovative leadership that has included a 130 percent increase in fundraising, expansion of national and global partnerships, advancement of strategic initiatives under the brand of "CommUniversity," and an increased emphasis on student success.

He is a three-time graduate of ASU, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in Political Science, a master of education degree in Secondary Education-English, and a doctorate of education in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law. Ross is also a distinguished career educator with more than 28 years of experience in higher and k-12 public education. Prior to becoming the University's 15th president, Dr. Ross served with distinction as an elected state senator in the Alabama Legislature for four terms.

PRESIDENT BIDEN APPOINTS ROSS

In 2022, President Joe Biden announced the appointment of Dr. Ross along with several additional qualified and diverse leaders to the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The President's Board assists with advancing the goal of the HBCU Initiative, established by the Jimmy Carter Administration, to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to its students and continue serving as engines of opportunity.

ABOUT THE SWAC

The Southwestern Athletic Conference is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.