Horizon League Announces 2023-24 Board of Directors and Council Leadership
Rachel White
INDIANAPOLIS (July 12, 2023) – The Horizon League announced this week key leadership roles in its governance structure for the 2023-24 academic year. Oakland President Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz will continue as Chair of the Board of Directors after beginning her term this winter while Wright State President Dr. Sue Edwards serves as the Board of Directors Vice Chair. Cleveland State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett has been named the Council Chair and Oakland Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield has been appointed the Council Vice Chair.
“We are energized about the leadership throughout our governance structure with a strong group of individuals who are willing to step up and lead. It is a dynamic time in college athletics and we are fortunate to have Presidents Pescovitz and Edwards along with Scott and Steve in these key roles,” said Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach. “I also want to thank former Northern Kentucky President Ashish Vaidya and Milwaukee Director of Athletics Amanda Braun for their incredible work as outgoing Chairs of the Board and Council, respectively.”
In addition, Oakland Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience Ashley Stone will serve as Chair of the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) advisory group while Cleveland State Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Robert Kleidman will continue as Chair of the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) advisory group. Green Bay swimming and diving student-athlete Betsey Walkowiak will represent the Horizon League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on NCAA Division I SAAC as well as on the Horizon League Council.
“We are grateful to have Rob, Ashley and Betsey representing our advisory groups on our Horizon League Council to provide vital insights from each group on all League matters,” added Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach. “Additionally, I want to thank Milwaukee Senior Associate Director of Athletics Kathy Litzau and Wright State volleyball student-athlete Lainey Stephenson for their leadership with our SWA and SAAC advisory groups the last two years.”
Pescovitz was named the President of Oakland University in 2017 and is distinguished by a range of academic, medical, research and business expertise. She also represents the Horizon League on the NCAA Board of Directors.
Edwards took office as the eighth president at Wright State in 2020 after serving as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost since 2018.
Garrett began his tenure at Cleveland State as its seventh Director of Athletics in 2019 and has served as the Council Vice Chair for the past two years.
Waterfield was appointed Director of Athletics at Oakland in 2018 and led the League’s Basketball Scheduling Committee as Chair the past two years.
2023-24 Horizon League Leadership
Board of Directors Chair: Dr. Ora Pescovitz, Oakland President
Board of Directors Vice Chair: Dr. Susan Edwards, Wright State President
Council Chair: Scott Garrett, Cleveland State Director of Athletics
Council Vice Chair: Steve Waterfield, Oakland Director of Athletics
SWA Chair: Ashley Stone, Oakland Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience
SWA Vice Chair: Joylynn Brown, Wright State Deputy Athletics Director
FAR Chair: Dr. Robert Kleidman, Cleveland State Faculty Athletics Representative
FAR Vice Chair: Dr. Chet Cooper, Youngstown State Faculty Athletics Representative
Division I SAAC and Student-Athlete Council Representative: Betsey Walkowiak, Green Bay swimming and diving