Buffalo, NY – Canisius President Steve Stoute has been appointed to the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. Stoute’s appointment begins immediately and continues through August 31, 2024.
The mission of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics is to provide leadership and assistance to the association in its efforts to provide equitable opportunities, fair treatment and respect for all women in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics. The committee seeks to expand and promote opportunities for female student-athletes, administrators, coaches and officiating personnel.
The committee also promotes governance, administration and conduct of intercollegiate athletics at the institutional, conference and national levels that are inclusive, fair and accessible to women. The committee develops programs and resources, which can be of practical use to the association in its efforts to achieve its mission.
“We are fortunate to have President Stoute represent the conference on such a prestigious association-wide committee,” said Travis Tellitocci, commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. “Steve’s background as a Division I student-athlete and university president uniquely positions him to have an impact on the great work being done to continue the growth of women’s athletics.”
“I’m extremely honored to serve the NCAA membership on this committee, which is doing vitally important work to improve all aspects of intercollegiate athletics for women” said Stoute. “My experience as a student-athlete shaped my life in profound ways and I look forward to contributing to the experience of the next generation of student-athletes.”
Stoute began his term as the 25th president of Canisius on July 1, 2022. He was previously vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff at DePaul University in Chicago, IL.
His higher education experience also includes work at Princeton University, first as an assistant director of the Princeton Varsity Club in the Department of Athletics and later as a capital giving officer in the Office of Development. He also served as the life skills coordinator in the Department of Athletics at the University of Southern California.
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island Caribbean nation, Stoute immigrated to the United States in 2000 to attend Seton Hall University in New Jersey. At Seton Hall, he competed on the men's soccer team and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration. After completing the prestigious NCAA postgraduate internship, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a master's degree in exercise and sport science. Stoute holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
About the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics
Membership: Eighteen members, including a current chancellor or president from each Division. There shall be six members from Division I, six members from Division II and six members from Division III. Six positions shall be allocated for men, six allocated for women and six unallocated. One student-athlete from each Division shall serve as a member of the committee. Division I student-athletes may serve on the committee up to one year after completion of their intercollegiate athletics eligibility. Division II and Division III student-athletes may serve on the committee up to two years after completion of their athletics eligibility.
About Canisius
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
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