Contact: Sid Salter
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has been elected to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Executive Committee.
Keenum, who since 2009 has served as MSU's 19th president, will represent the conference's university presidents on the seven-member executive committee. The panel is empowered under conference by-laws to hear and decide appeals of disciplinary/enforcement matters, fill conference vacancies, and approve or ratify conference contracts or agreements.
The committee also approves the conference's operating budget and has oversight of fiscal affairs.
"It is indeed an honor to have the opportunity to serve in a leadership position and to help direct policy in the most prestigious athletic conference in the nation," said Keenum.
The panel includes SEC President Nick Zeppos of Vanderbilt University, Vice President David Gearhart of the University of Arkansas and Secretary Dr. Joe Fink of the University of Kentucky. The other members are University of Georgia Athletics Director Greg McGarity, Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Ron Rychlak of the University of Mississippi and Senior Women's Administrator Lynda Tealer of the University of Florida.
Keenum will also continue to serve on the SEC's Content Committee. It is the league's oversight committee in the development of the new SEC Network--a partnership with ESPN that will provide a television network and accompanying digital platform to exclusively broadcast SEC programming.
The network and its digital extensions will connect with each SEC institution and create opportunities for each school to produce and develop content. The SEC Network debuts Aug. 14.
For complete information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu.