AMHERST, N.Y. -- NCAA President Mark Emmert will discuss the importance of collegiate sports in creating opportunities for student-athletes as featured speaker in the Daemen College Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series scheduled for 3:15 p.m. May 4 in the Wick Campus Center Social Room.

The lecture, “College Sports: A Pathway to Opportunity,” is free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested by emailing speaker@daemen.edu.

“We are truly honored to host such a prominent national speaker at Daemen and excited to present this unique event for our local and college communities,” said Daemen President Gary A. Olson. “Dr. Emmert’s outstanding leadership at the NCAA has been instrumental to the organization, which places a strong emphasis on athletics and academic excellence among student-athletes across the country.”

As part of his visit to Daemen, Emmert will hold a town hall discussion with the college’s student-athletes at 11:30 a.m. in the Lumsden Gymnasium. He will discuss a range of topics, including his experience leading the NCAA, dedication of student-athletes to academics and athletics, and institutions moving to a different NCAA division like Daemen, which has transitioned to Division II.

Named NCAA’s president in 2010, Emmert has championed greater support for student-athlete wellness and academic success, and he has ushered in a new governance structure in Division I. He oversees an organization comprised of more than 1,120 colleges and universities, nearly half a million college athletes, and 19,500 teams.                

Emmert previously served as president of his alma mater, the University of Washington, and has held top administrative positions as chancellor of Louisiana State University, provost and chancellor of the University of Connecticut, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Montana State University-Bozeman, and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

 The Daemen Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series brings top government and public officials and business leaders to campus to share their unique perspective on critical state, national, and international issues. It is sponsored by Harris Beach PLLC, a major New York-based law firm with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Ithaca, White Plains, New York City and Long Island.