Chancellor Li Named the Next Chair of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Board of Directors

From OMAVS.com — University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, has been named the next Chair of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Board of Directors.

Chancellor Li replaces University of North Dakota President Andy Armacost. She will serve a two-year appointment through the 2024-25 season. Dr. Li will be joined by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner (University of Denver) as Vice Chair, President Robbyn Wacker (St. Cloud State University) as Secretary, and President Ed Montgomery (Western Michigan University) as Treasurer.

“I am humbled and honored to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, the premier collegiate hockey conference that seeks excellence not only on the ice, but also in the classroom and beyond,” Li said. “College athletics is at a pivotal moment, and it’s a tremendous privilege to play a larger role in moving the NCHC forward as it adds another powerful program to its roster.”

The NCHC Board of Directors is represented by each member institution's President or Chancellor with the Chair leading the Board. The Board of Directors has general strategic oversight on conference decisions, with specific attention to membership, financial matters, major conference contracts, and conference personnel.

The Chair of the Board works with the NCHC Commissioner on communications to fellow members of the Board, meeting logistics, and voting topics.

The NCHC Board of Directors is one of the two main governing bodies of the Conference. Chancellor Li will work directly with the NCHC Athletic Council which consists of the NCHC Athletic Directors, who are involved with operational and athletic administrative decisions for the league.

Since its inception in 2013, the NCHC has raised five national championship trophies en route to becoming the premier college hockey conference in the NCAA.

Mission Statement

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference facilitates and fosters competitive, academic and operational excellence for its member institutions through the sport of ice hockey. The Conference supports a culture of professionalism and integrity, reflecting its commitment to grow the sport of ice hockey while creating a positive experience for the student-athletes and fans it serves.

Vision Statement

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference strives to be the best single-sport conference in the NCAA by embracing our core values and operating collectively for the best interests of the Conference and member institutions.

About the National Collegiate Hockey Conference

The NCHC is an eight-school NCAA Division I men’s hockey conference that is entering its 11th season of competition in 2023-24. Its members are: Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University. Arizona State University will become the NCHC's ninth member in 2024. Since the NCHC began play in 2013-14, 35 NCHC programs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including 13 Frozen Four berths and five of the last seven NCAA national champions (2016-19, 2022). For more information, visit the NCHC website at www.nchchockey.com and follow the conference on social media @theNCHC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.