| Name |
Thomas Saylor |
| Your Institution |
Concordia University, St. Paul |
| Committee Service (Current and previous) |
I was recently named to the national NCAA Research Committee. In the past I worked on the NSIC strategic planning group and, this summer, one of the COVID groups. |
| Years of Service in Athletics |
8, as FAR at CSP |
| Hometown |
I grew up in Akron, Ohio |
| High School |
Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Fall, OH |
| Person with Biggest Influence on your Career (Name and relationship with them) |
My graduate school advisor Dr Sheldon B Liss. |
| College Alma Mater(s) |
University of Akron (OH) BS, MA
University of Rochester (NY), PhD |
| Degree(s) |
BS Business Management and Marketing
MA Latin American History
PhD European History |
| Sports Played & Levels |
Individual: road cycling
Team: basketball, amateur league, Akron OH 1979 & 1980 |
| Most memorable sports moment: |
As athlete--road cycling: first time under 6:00 for 100 miles
As spectator--attending a professional baseball game in Japan |
| Favorite Movie |
The Deer Hunter |
| Favorite Book |
This week it is Andrew Bacevich, The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory (2020) |
| Favorite Quote |
“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”– Søren Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855) |
| Favorite Part of NSIC |
Interacting and working with great people at my school, conference office and NCAA. |
| Favorite vacation you have taken |
Backpacking trips through Japan, Newfoundland, Norway, Bavaria ... |
| Favorite Food |
Meals not eaten in restaurants |
As part of the league’s Strategic Plan the NSIC has developed the #NSICCelebratingService initiative to recognizes those individuals that are serving on regional or national committees, or with national organizations. On Thursdays during the 2020-21 academic year, the NSIC will be spotlighting one committee member on social media and the league’s website.
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 23 team national championships and crowned 77 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit
NCAA.org.
#NSICCelebratingService