LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The NFCA welcomes seven elected members to the Association’s Board of Directors in addition to its 2027 committee member appointments, who officially begin their terms on Jan. 1, 2027.
Three of the six are serving for the first time on the Board – NCAA Division I representative Joanna Hardin (Virginia), NWAC representative Kaitlyn Rizo (Big Bend Community College) and Assistant Coach representative Kevin Bednoski (Virginia Glory).
Joining the trio are Vice President for Awards Diane Miller (Nebraska), Vice President for Publications Leslie Huntington (UW-Eau Claire), NCAA Division III representative Monica Harrison (Carnegie Mellon) and NFCA Hall of Famer Cindy Bristow as the new Emeriti representative, who have all previously served on the Board in other capacities.
Outgoing Board members – Courtney Deifel, Arkansas (Vice President, Awards); Chris Malveaux, Auburn (VP, Publications); Megan Bartlett, Arizona State (NCAA DI); former Tufts head coach and new Northwestern assistant coach Lauren Ebstein (NCAA DIII); Jessica Buel, Clackamas Community College (NWAC); Cheyenne Bricker, Southern Oregon (Assistant Coach); Julie Lenhart, NFCA Hall of Fame (Emeriti) will be recognized for their service during the NFCA Convention’s Awards Brunch on Dec. 12 in Atlantic City, N.J.
NFCA Board of Directors (Effective Jan. 1, 2027)
Bold denotes new members
Executive Board
President – Kenny Gajewski, Oklahoma State University
Past President – Larissa Anderson, University of Missouri
Vice President, Awards – Diane Miller, University of Nebraska
Vice President, Education – Megan Brown, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Vice President, Membership – Renae Hartl, Luther College
Vice President, Publications – Leslie Huntington, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Group Representatives
Division I – Joanna Hardin, University of Virginia
Division II – Megan Correia, Cal Poly Humboldt
Division III – Monica Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University
NAIA – Bruce Lenington, University of the Cumberlands
NJCAA – Aaron Mullins, Murray State College
Cal JC – Marian “Speedy” Mendoza, Fullerton College
NWAC – Kaitlyn Rizo, Big Bend Community College
High School – Karen Sanders, Valley View High School (Ark.)
Travel Ball – Suzy Willemssen, Virginia Glory
Access & Opportunity - TBD
Assistant Coach – Boo De Oliveira, University of Notre Dame
Assistant Coach – Kevin Bednoski, Virginia Glory
Emeriti – Cindy Bristow
New Committee Members (Effective Jan. 1, 2027)
All-American regions in parentheses
NCAA Division II All-American – Nicole Tines, Wayne State University (Midwest), Julie Lemaire, Nova Southeastern University (South Region), Ashley Hickman, Western New Mexico University (South Central)
NCAA Division III All-American – Erica Castro, Wentworth Institute of Technology (Region II); Bayleigh Masterson, Maryville College (Region VI); Bill Vasko, St. Francis University (Pa.) (Region VII); Jake Koolbeck, Coe College (Region IX); JoAnne Ferguson, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Region X)
NJCAA DI All-American – William Royce, University of South Carolina Union (South); Mike Viramontenz, Dodge City Community College (West); Olivia Garza, Midland College (West)
NJCAA DII All-American – Matt Egger, North Iowa Area Community College (Midwest); Brad Grinstead, Meridian Community College (South)
High School Steering Committee – Perry Peterson, Barrington High School (Region V); Chase Belk, Morton High School (Region VI); Debbie Schwartz, Donovan Catholic High School (Region IX); Kristine Drust, Cheshire High School (Region X)
Awards Committee - Emlyn Knerem, Belmont University (NCAA DI); Dana Callihan, Grand Valley State University (NCAA DII); Jake Koolbeck, Coe College (NCAA DIII); Victoria Castillo, Compton College (Cal JC)
Access & Opportunity Committee - Laura Watten, Bethune-Cookman University; Matthew Fletcher, American International College (DII Assistant); Emma Ryan, William Jewell College; Luis Fernando Perez, University of Maine at Presque Isle; Shawn Grimm, Alverno College; Jamien Payne, VA Glory
Ethics Committee - Patti Gerkens, Emeriti; Jenna Koch, SUNY Niagara
Events Committee - Greg Messer, Carolina Chaos; Eric Oakley, Longwood University
Hall of Fame – Nicole Dame, University of Texas San Antonio (NCAA DIII); Craig Fuentes, Grossmont College (Cal JC); Kaitlyn Rizo, Big Bend Community College (NWAC)
