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Chancellor Mark Fuller and Athletic Director Lori Hendricks to lead conference Presidents and AD's

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, Ph.D., began his two-year term as Chair of the Little East Conference (LEC) Presidents Council on July 1, 2025. This marks the first term as Chair for Dr. Fuller, who has served as Chancellor of ½ûÂþÌìÌà since August 2021.
 
"At ½ûÂþÌìÌà and across the LEC, we champion the achievements of student-athletes on and off the field, knowing that these experiences enrich the lives of our students and vibrancy of our campuses," said Dr. Fuller. "As Chair of the LEC Presidents Council, I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we continue to offer incredible, competitive, and enriching athletic opportunities."
 
As Chair of the LEC Presidents Council, Dr. Fuller is responsible for making decisions and instituting immediate actions in situations that involve the best interests of the Conference, member institutions, or student-athletes when the Presidents' Council is not in full session. He is one of three officers of the LEC, along with Commissioner Al Bean and Treasurer Lori Mazza, who is entering her tenth year as Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports at Western Connecticut State University.
 
"I look forward to Chancellor Fuller's leadership over the next two years as we work to provide first-rate experiences for our student-athletes that will enhance the overall campus environment of our member institutions," said Bean. "We will work together to bring added value to our student-athletes and staff, and further support our universities and colleges as destinations of choice for current and prospective students. I want to thank Plymouth State President, Dr. Don Birx, for his steady leadership during his tenure as Chair of the Presidents Council; it was truly a pleasure to work with him in my first year as Commissioner of the Little East. I also want to express my gratitude to Plymouth State Athletic Director Kim Bownes for her guidance and consistent support, and welcome the opportunity to work with ½ûÂþÌìÌà Director of Athletic Lori Hendricks."
 
Dr. Birx presided over his final LEC Presidents Council meeting on June 2, 2025. He officially completed his first two-year term as LEC Presidents Council Chair on June 30, 2025.
 
The latest rotation of the LEC Presidents Council Chair is also reflected in the composition of the LEC Athletic Directors Council Executive Committee. Hendricks, who is entering her fifth academic year with the Corsairs, will serve as Chair of the Athletic Directors Council through June 30, 2027, while Bownes rotates to Past-Chair.
 
The LEC was formed in 1986 when six public institutions gathered to create a single sport athletic conference and has expanded into what is now New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. The LEC sponsors 23 championship sports, providing quality competition in every season for our student-athletes while following the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship and citizenship. The Little East consists of nine primary institutions that encompass all six New England states –Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College (N.H.), UMass Boston, ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ, Plymouth State University (N.H.), Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine, Vermont State University Castleton and Western Connecticut State University.