Shenandoah University Director of Esports Joey Gawrysiak, Ph.D., has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the National Association of Collegiate Esports, or NACE.
NACE focuses on the development of esports programs at the collegiate level and advocates for its more than 170 university members to make a strong institutional commitment to the sport. Its board of directors includes some of the most influential leaders in collegiate esports.
It is an honor and a privilege to be elected to the NACE board of directors, where moving forward I will be able to help shape the future of NACE and its member institutions as the largest governing body of varsity collegiate esports in North America. NACE has grown tremendously over the past few years because of its leadership and dedication to members and their students. I am excited to get to work on some new initiatives to keep the association at the front of collegiate varsity esports as well as to find additional opportunities for students and member institutions across North America.”
Joey Gawrysiak
Gawrysiak’s three-year term began July 24, 2020. He previously served on NACE’s Competition Council.
The board of directors initiates operational policies and oversees all fiscal matters of NACE, the employment and supervision of the NACE president/chief executive officer, decisions on withdrawal of membership or denial of esports sponsorship for a member institution, and administrative supervision of both the Competition Council and the Eligibility Enforcement Committee.
This year there were 11 nominees for the board, but only two new members were elected. All members of the board of directors are elected by members of NACE. Each member institution gets one vote, and the nominee/nominees that get the most votes are elected to the board to serve. Those who are nominated must hold one of the following positions at a NACE member institution: president, vice-president, dean, esports director or athletic director (if the esports team is organized under the athletic department).
NACE Board of Directors Chairman Eugene Frier, M.Ed., is the director of esports and gaming at Texas Wesleyan University. Frier said Gawrysiak’s knowledge, professionalism and compassion for esports made him a perfect candidate to serve on the board.
We are tremendously excited to have Joey on the board of directors. Even before being elected to his role, it was clear to me that he approached his work in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. We also had several great conversations earlier this calendar year about pathways for development and engagement of students involved in our institution. I can already tell he is going to be a great addition to the board of directors for NACE.”
Eugene Frier
The board meets every other week throughout the year or as needed.
