Alden takes over from Damon Evans, the former UGA athletic director. (Below is not from this press release, but from another one describing what the council does.) The Leadership Council is comprised primarily of directors of athletics, faculty athletic representatives and commissioners representing 31 Division I conferences and serves as an advisory body to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. The council identifies issues important to the future of the organization, in addition to providing expertise in defining appropriate action items. Several NCAA committees report to the council, including the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, the Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Committee on Women's Athletics and all NCAA cabinets