INDIANAPOLIS --- The NCAA Division II Presidents Council and Management Council have named new chairs for 2006.  Both will assume their new duties following the 2006 NCAA Convention in January.

The Presidents Council named Charles Ambrose, president of Pfeiffer University, to a two-year term.  He will replace Kathryn A. Martin, chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, when her term expires in January.

The Presidents Council serves as a leadership structure and forum for presidential interests in Division II athletics.  The council, made up of 15 presidents and chancellors from Division II institutions, establishes and directs Division II general policy and sponsors legislation for approval by the Division II membership.  It also has the authority to approve non-controversial legislation.

"The Presidents Council will build on the energy and potential that has been provided under the leadership of Kathryn Martin and the CEO leadership summit last summer in Orlando, to strengthen the identity and distinctive characteristics that best represents our members,” Ambrose said, referring to a gathering of 150 Division II chancellors and presidents to discuss to division’s future.  “Our efforts will build on the theme of the balance that exists between academics and athletics that so well defines Division II.”

Ambrose has been the president at Pfeiffer since 1998 and has also served as a senior administrator at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Carson-Newman College and Western Carolina University.  His career also included serving as a graduate assistant soccer coach at the University of Louisville after being a student-athlete at Furman University.  He has been a Presidents Council member since April 2004.

The Presidents Council chair presides over the council’s quarterly meetings and Division II Business Session at the January Convention and serves as a Division II governance spokesperson.

The Management Council named Jill Willson, director of athletics and senior woman administrator at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and current Management Council vice-chair, as its new chair.  She replaces Paul Engelmann, professor of economics and faculty athletics representative at Central Missouri State University.

Willson joined the Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics department in 1992 as the head women’s basketball coach, a position she held until 2000.  Prior to being named athletics director in 2002, she also served as an assistant and associate athletics director.

"This is a pivotal time for Division II athletics as we seek to strengthen and attract interest in our division by emphasizing the qualities that make Division II unique,” Willson said.  “I look forward to continuing the great work already being done to improve an already great part of college athletics."

In addition to being a member of the Management Council since January 2003, Willson has served on the South Central Regional Women’s Basketball Committee, the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee and is currently on the NCAA Nominating Committee.

The Management Council handles the day-to-day operations of Division II and makes recommendations to the Presidents Council on various policies and passage of non-controversial legislation.  The chair presides over quarterly meetings and makes reports to the Presidents Council.

Both chairs serve as members of the NCAA Executive Committee, and Division II Administrative and Budget and Finance Committees.