By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has elected a new slate of board members for the 2020-21 academic year. The new SAAC Board will have six student-athletes who will lead the SAAC in meetings and projects throughout the year.

Co-presidents will be Mack van der Velde from the men's soccer team and Andrew Kibbee from the men's golf team. The secretary will be Marley Nicassio from the softball team, and the communications officer will be Kiki Fierstos from the women's golf team. In addition, the service and philanthropy leader will be Lacey Jones from women's soccer, while Avery Mickelson from women's track and field will be an at-large member of the board.

The SAAC includes student-athletes from all of Willamette's varsity teams with up to two members per team. SAAC members work together to interact with Willamette University administrators, Bearcat coaches, and Athletics Department administrators, providing important insights from the perspective of student-athletes. The SAAC offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that impact student-athletes on campus, as well as throughout the Northwest Conference and the NCAA. Members of SAAC also sponsor and encourage community service and professional development activities for all student-athletes at Willamette.

"I think the biggest thing that SAAC hopes to accomplish in 2020-21 is continuing our athletic culture," van der Velde said. "After the spring semester has been impacted so heavily by COVID-19 and taken many of our student-athletes' seasons, we want to make sure we emphasize that the community that has been built at Willamette not only exists, but is stronger and more together than ever."