Rice University President David Leebron has been appointed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors as a representative of Conference USA. His term is effective through Aug. 31, 2016.

He is one of 18 university presidents and chancellors on the board, which is charged with reviewing NCAA Division I academic requirements, financial aid, eligibility, rules infractions and other policies. University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft chairs the Division I board.

The NCAA was established to protect student-athletes and now oversees 89 championships in 23 sports. More than 400,000 student-athletes compete in three divisions at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Of the 340 schools that are members of Division I, 67 percent are public and 33 percent are private.

Rice is a member of Conference USA and fields 16 men's and women's varsity teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level.