The Big Sky Conference is pleased to announce the appointment of a new commissioner, Andrea Williams.“We are thrilled Andrea has agreed to be the next commissioner,” said Scott L. Wyatt, chair of the President’s Council of the Big Sky Conference, and President of Southern Utah University. “She will bring new energy and vision to the conference as we continue to grow. As a former championship student athlete herself, we are confident she will help us focus on the student experience, while still increasing our competitiveness.”Williams has valuable experience in collegiate athletics, having served as the associate commissioner for the Big Ten Conference in Rosemont, Illinois, for the past 10 years.“Andrea has made a substantial impact during her time at the Big Ten Conference,” said James Edward Delany, the current commissioner of the Big Ten. “Her diverse background in sports administration, event planning and operations allows her to work seamlessly with our member institutions and build relationships with countless external partners in our host cities.”Williams is currently the chair of the NCAA WBCO, and is the past president of the Collegiate Event and Facility Managers Association, under NACDA. She also volunteers at several major events such as the CFP National Championship Game, Super Bowl and Transplant Games of America.“I’m thrilled to have been selected as the next commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, and I’m excited to guide the league into the next era of academic and athletic achievement,” said Williams. “I am grateful to the President’s Council and selection committee for the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of institutions that prioritize the student-athlete experience and higher education.”Williams’ experience competing in two sports at the Division I level have provided her with a unique perspective of the welfare of the student-athlete. She said, “I believe in the collegiate model and the benefit sport and academics plays in the lives of young adults.”Williams earned a Master of Sport Administration in the School of Business from Ohio University in April 2016.In her new role as commissioner, Williams will draw on her experience with the Big Ten and its progressive initiatives that have focused on member institution cooperation, broad based programming, innovative television and technology platforms and athlete health and safety, to shape and develop her vision for the Big Sky Conference.Gene Smith, Athletic Director at Ohio State University praised Williams, “The Big Sky Conference is fortunate to have such a dynamic leader as Andrea Williams. Her NCAA and conference experience will significantly benefit all Big Sky members. A tremendous person!!! What an outstanding hire, WOW!!”Williams will begin her service for the Big Sky on July 1, 2016.The Big Sky Conference enters its 53rd year and 28th year of women’s competition during the 2015-16 academic year. The venerable and stable Division I Big Sky Conference observed its 50th birthday on July 1, 2013. The league has become one of the strongest Division I conferences in the West and is a national leader in the Football Championship Subdivision. Six times, Big Sky teams have won the Division I National Championship, including Eastern Washington in 2010. The Big Sky is one of three conferences in the western United States playing Division I football. The Big Sky’s full members represent nine states spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Red River Valley of North Dakota. The league is represented along the entire west coast with institutions in Washington, Oregon and California. League schools also range up and down the Rocky Mountains with institutions in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. It is “The Heart of the American West.”Jon Oglesbyjoglesby@bigskyconference.org702-672-8974