SELINSGROVE , PA - College-athletics veteran John A. Reeves has been appointed the first commissioner of the Landmark Conference, a newly formed association of seven NCAA Division III institutions in the mid-Atlantic region. Reeves will begin his service as commissioner on September 1, 2006.

Reeves, who spent the last 14 years of his 43-year career in college sports as the director of physical education and intercollegiate athletics at Columbia University , was called out of retirement by the Landmark Conference. The conference's members selected Reeves following an intensive nationwide search for a leader with the experience and enthusiasm necessary to shape the nascent conference and help it attain its goal of integrating the educational and athletic experience.

"As we contemplated the beginning of this new exciting venture, we were looking for a leader who could quickly move us forward based on past experience and enthusiasm for a 'best of class' NCAA Division III athletic conference. There is no doubt we found the perfect leader in John Reeves. We are delighted that John is willing to take on the launch of our new conference," said Thomas R. Kepple Jr., president of Juniata College and the Landmark Conference's first chair.

As commissioner, Reeves will provide a critical link between the presidents, academic leaders, athletic administrators, and coaches of the Landmark Conference. He will oversee all of the conference's sports programs for men and women, including championships and special events, and he will administer its program-development efforts and day-to-day operational planning. Officiating, compliance, sports information, and marketing will also fall under his purview. Reeves will manage all fiscal operations of the Landmark Conference, including its annual operating budget, and he will coordinate contacts with prospective sponsors and affiliated organizations.

During his career, Reeves has served at a variety of educational institutions as an educator, coach, and administrator. Prior to his tenure at Columbia University , he served as professor of physical education and director of physical education and athletics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and as director of sports and recreation at the University of Rochester . He has also served as a professor of physical education, director of athletics, and head soccer coach at Drew University , and he was an assistant professor of physical education and head soccer coach at Bloomfield College in New Jersey .

"Following a relatively short leave from intense involvement in intercollegiate athletics, I am thrilled to return with the prospect of indirectly, positively influencing the development of young people. Especially attractive to me is the academic-athletic, educational foundation upon which the Landmark Conference was conceived and will flourish," Reeves said.

The members of the Landmark Conference are the Catholic University of America of Washington , D.C.; Drew University of Madison, N.J.; Goucher College of Baltimore, Md.; Juniata College of Huntingdon, Pa.; Moravian College of Bethlehem , Pa.; Susquehanna University of Selinsgrove, Pa.; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, N.Y. An eighth member institution will be announced at a later date.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, Landmark Conference members will compete in baseball, basketball, cross-country, field hockey, indoor and outdoor track and field, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

Contact Information:
John A. Reeves, Commissioner
Landmark Conference
Drew University
Presidents House Annex
36 Madison Avenue
Madison, NJ 07940

Phone: (973) 805-8837
Fax: (973) 805-8838
E-mail: jreeves@drew.edu