BSU President to Lead MAC Council of Presidents

Mearns was named Ball State's president in 2017.

Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns has been elected chair of the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents. Mearns has also been named the MAC representative to the NCAA Board of Directors.

Mearns replaces University at Buffalo President Dr. Satish Tripathi, who has served as chair of the Council of Presidents for the last four years.

“On behalf of the President’s Council, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Tripathi for his leadership and guidance over the last four years,” Mearns said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue advancing the Mid-American Conference while also helping our student-athletes achieve athletic and academic success.”

Mearns spent the last year as the MAC representative to the NCAA Presidential Forum. Ball State says he is being replaced by Central Michigan University President Dr. Robert Davies.

“During his tenure as a chief executive of a member institution in the Mid-American Conference, President Mearns has been fully engaged in both Conference and NCAA matters and has earned and enjoys the trust of his colleagues,” said MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. “I look forward to working with him in his Conference leadership role and in representing our membership with the NCAA Board of Directors.”

The NCAA Board of Directors is comprised of 24 members: 20 chief executive officers, one director of athletics, one senior woman administrator, one faculty athletics representative, and one student-athlete.