INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the addition of Leslie Schuemann as Senior Associate Commissioner, effective July 1, 2019.
Schuemann, who will also hold the title of Senior Woman Administrator, transitions to the Great Midwest after spending four years in the same role at the Heartland Conference, a fellow NCAA Division II conference office, in Waco, Texas.
“It is with great pleasure that we announce the newest addition to the Great Midwest staff,” stated Daeger. “Leslie will bring tremendous value to the league’s membership as the first Senior Associate Commissioner and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with her in this capacity”
“Her work ethic, professionalism, attention to detail, and significant Division II experience in various roles will aid the Conference as we continue our focus of service to the league’s member institutions,” added Daeger. “I am excited to see the impact she will have within the league and I am appreciative to Heartland Commissioner Tony Stigliano for his support of Leslie’s transition to this new opportunity”
Schuemann, who has been serving the conference’s 13 members in a consulting role since January, will oversee compliance while assuming additional administrative responsibilities.
"The Great Midwest Athletic Conference represents excellence in athletics, academics and community engagement,” said Schuemann. “I am excited to join a dynamic and committed conference office staff and become a part of the Great Midwest team. I have had the opportunity to work with Commissioner Daeger on the NCAA Division II Membership Committee and with many of the member institutions' administrators as they have gone through the Division II membership process.
“I am looking forward to a strong working relationship with all of our member institutions as we continue to develop and grow a premier DII conference,” she added. “I would like to thank Commissioner Daeger and the Great Midwest Presidents’ Council for this opportunity."
Schuemann currently serves as the chair of the NCAA Division II Membership Committee, which establishes policies and procedures for prospective member institutions to achieve active membership status in Division II, while reviewing issues pertaining to membership requirements and membership compliance issues.
Schuemann joined the Heartland Conference in June of 2015 after serving as Director of Athletics at Fresno Pacific University in California. During her tenure, Schuemann guided FPU to its first ever NCAA Division II conference championships, as well as numerous accolades in the areas of academics, community service and sportsmanship.
Her extensive professional experience includes a role at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, where she was the Assistant Director of Academic and Membership Affairs from 2007-2012.
Schuemann earned her Master of Science in counseling psychology at Texas A&M-Kingsville, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. She returned to her alma mater to begin her career in athletics, serving as an Academic Advisor for three years before spending five years as the Assistant A.D. for Compliance and SWA.
The Great Midwest will be entering its eighth year of existence as an active Division II conference during the 2019-20 academic year and serves institutions in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.