East Coast Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
What is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee? (SAAC)
A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations, and polices that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Presently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have SAACs on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have SAACs.
ECC SAAC Mission Statement
The mission of ECC SAAC is to enhance the overall student-athlete experience by providing an opportunity to effectively communicate with the ECC and individual institutions' administration in order to provide suggestions on programs designed to serve their needs. ECC SAAC maintains a committment to academic and athletic experience while promoting diversity, serving as ambassadors to the community, and acting as liaisons between every ECC student-athlete, the conference office, and the NCAA.
ECC SAAC meets monthly during the academic year, with each member school represented by its campus SAAC president.
2026-27 ECC SAAC Members
Daemen University – Bradyn Winters (Men's Volleyball), ECC SAAC Executive Board Chair
University of the District of Columbia – TBA
D'Youville University – TBA
Mercy University – Rita-Marie Masi (Women's Lacrosse), ECC National SAAC Representative
Molloy University – Elyse Muñoz (Women's Soccer)
Queens College – Ava Angiuli (Women's Soccer), ECC SAAC Executive Board Vice Chair
Roberts Wesleyan University – Nate Worden (Men's Volleyball)
College of Staten Island – Marena Grenier (Softball)
St. Thomas Aquinas College – TBA
ECC SAAC Community Engagement Awards
The ECC and its institutions are dedicated to giving back to the communities that support them. By engaging in the community, student-athletes have the opportunity to not only better the lives of those they impact but also to enhance their collegiate experience.
The ECC currently awards four community engagement awards at the conclusion of each academic year.
ECC Cares Award
• Recognizes the institution that raises the high amount of money per student-athlete for collective causes
ECC Community Cup
• Recognizes the institution with the highest number of community service and community engagement hours per student-athlete
ECC Community Engagement Award of Excellence
• Recognizes an annual initiative that positively impacts a community through athletics and strengthens the connection between campus and community
ECC Dr. Robert Dranoff Excellence in Community and Character Award
• Recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through positive actions and behaviors that are consistent with the NCAA Division II attributes of learning, service, passion, sportsmanship, balance, and resourcefulness
Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Overview
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) serves as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete liaisons that monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within their conference and at the national level.
Representatives are responsible for gathering feedback and reporting on behalf of their conference, as well as relaying important events, hot topics and educational information to both the campus and conference levels. In addition to relaying information across campuses and conferences, the committee speaks on behalf of the entire Division II student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure.
Guided by principles of ethics, integrity, fairness and respect for diversity and inclusion, Division II SAAC is committed to ensuring the well-being of student-athletes remains central to decision-making. Campus and conference representatives serve as a critical link in this process, elevating student-athlete perspectives and ensuring effective communication across all levels of the division.
Division II SAAC members serve as voting members on a number of Division II committees, including the Management Council and Executive Board. The SAAC also has voting authority during the Division II Business Session at the annual NCAA Convention.
Resources:
Division II Campus SAAC Guide
Division II Conference SAAC Guide
For additional information, please contact ECC SAAC Liaison Nikki Philpot at nphilpot@eccsports.org.