CLEVELAND - The members of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) have elected Mario Moccia, director of athletics at New Mexico State University, as President of the Association, who will serve a two-year term, ending in June 2017. Moccia's appointment will begin immediately following the June Symposium.

"I look forward to serving as the President of MOAA for the next two years and want to thank Dr. Sharon Beverly for her efforts as the leader of our Association these past two years. Dr. Beverly has been instrumental in helping MOAA move the needle on several initiatives during her tenure and we would not be where we are at without her efforts," said Moccia. "Our Executive Director, Stan Johnson, continues to be the backbone of our Association and without his guidance and national presence, we would not be where we are at today. Thanks to our Executive Committee, Board, committee volunteers and sponsors for their efforts in helping MOAA continue to prosper."

In addition to Moccia, Peggy Davis, director of athletics at Virginia State University will move into the Vice President role, while China Jude, assistant vice president/athletics at Queens College and Donald Reed, senior associate AD for academics and athletic performance at the University at Buffalo will join the Executive Committee as At-Large members. Renae Myles, associate AD for Business & Administration/SWA at Alabama A&M University and Carla Wilson, director of athletics at the University of Missouri Kansas City will be joining the MOAA Board immediately following the NACDA Convention in June.

Moccia, Davis, Jude and Reed join Executive Director Stan Johnson, president of Stan Johnson & Associates on the Executive Committee. Davis currently serves as an At-Large Executive Committee member and is co-chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, while Jude and Reed are Board members. Jude serves as the co-chair of the Education/Professional Development committee and Reed serves as co-chair of the Communications Committee.

Both Myles and Wilson have been active in MOAA, serving on the Education/Professional Development Committee.

Myles and Wilson join Kevin Anderson, director of athletics at University of Maryland; Gail Barksdale, deputy director of athletics/SWA at Indiana University -- Purdue University at Indianapolis; Cora Brumley, commissioner at the Little East Conference; Derrick Magee, senior associate AD/business affairs at Alabama State University; Brandon Martin, director of athletics at Cal State Northridge; Gloria Nevarez, senior associate commissioner/SWA at the Pac-12 Conference; Ed Scott, senior associate AD for student services at Binghamton University; Harry Stinson, associate AD/compliance at Kentucky State University; and Richard Williams, director of athletics at Albany State University.

MOAA promotes equitable employment opportunities for minorities in the athletics industry through the exchange of ideas, the creation of networking opportunities and the avocation of an increase in employment for minorities in athletics administration positions at all levels of the sports industry. The Association also promotes cultivating a sports environment that supports the values necessary to accept aspiring professionals from all walks of life. For more information on MOAA, please visit www.moaaweb.com. MOAA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 50th year.