Bridgewater, NJ -- The NEC Council of Presidents has named longtime conference administrator Ron Ratner as Interim Commissioner, effective September 1.

Ratner, who currently serves as the NEC’s Senior Associate Commissioner for Communications/Digital Media/TV, is in his 29th year with the conference and is the longest-tenured full-time employee in NEC history. This marks his third stint as Interim Commissioner, having previously served in the role in 2006 and 2009.

Ratner will oversee the conference’s day-to-day operations and work closely with the NEC Council of Presidents, athletic administrators and conference staff during the transition.

In addition, NEC Associate Commissioner Lisa Archbald, who brings extensive experience working with the NCAA at the national level, will take on an expanded role overseeing the conference’s NCAA governance matters.

“Ron Ratner has dedicated nearly 30 years to the NEC and is uniquely positioned to step back into this role for the third time as we complete the search for a new commissioner,” said NEC Council of Presidents Chair Mike Avaltroni. “Ron has a deep understanding of the NEC’s history and operations and will provide the strong leadership necessary during this time of transition. Lisa Archbald is a well-respected voice on NCAA governance issues and will be an effective representative for the NEC at the national level. We are fortunate to have such veteran conference office staff members who will provide seamless leadership and service to the NEC membership.”

Ratner assumes the interim role following the departure of Noreen Morris, who stepped down after more than 16 years as NEC Commissioner to become Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. During her tenure, Morris guided the conference through significant change across the collegiate athletics landscape while remaining focused on the student-athlete experience. Most recently, she led the development of the NEC’s new Strategic Plan and played a central role in shaping the conference’s forthcoming media rights agreements, two efforts that will help position the NEC for the future.

A national search for the NEC’s fifth full-time Commissioner is underway.

About The NEC
Now in its 46th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 17 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.