Art Becker, President

Becker will begin his term as President of the NJCAA in 2005-2006. The men's athletic director at Scottsdale Community College (Ariz.), Becker has a Bachelor of Science degree in history and a master's degree in physical education, both from Arizona State. While at Scottsdale he served as the head men's tennis coach (1981-1983) and the head men's basketball coach (1974-1981, 1993-1996). A professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association from 1967-1973, Becker was on the ABA West All-Star team in 1967-1968 and 1971-1972. He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) and is a founding member and former president of the National Alliance of Two-Year Collegiate Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA). Currently he is a liaison with the Fiesta Bowl, a position he has held since 1984, and an executive committee member of NATYCAA.

Becker on the NJCAA: "I am very excited about serving the NJCAA. I think that we are entering a very important time in the development of the organization and I am very happy to be involved with the fine group of people that will take the NJCAA to a new level of accomplishment."

Tom LaPuma, Vice-President for the Men's Division

Thomas LaPuma enters the office of vice president for men with a wealth of knowledge and experience at the institutional, regional and international levels. He began his career at Herkimer County Community College as Director of Physical Education and Athletics in 1970, a post he held for 21 years. While at Herkimer he coached women's tennis, lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, bowling and golf, advancing numerous teams and individuals nationals. LaPuma has served on and been chair of numerous NJCAA national sports committees, including lacrosse, division III baseball, bowling, skiing and he will serve as chair of ice hockey in 2005. His other NJCAA committee work includes division I basketball, soccer, wrestling, executive, eligibility and strategic planning. LaPuma was the Region lll assistant men's director for two years and was the Regional Director for New York for 12 years. In 1997 he began a eigth-year stint as the NJCAA secretary-treasurer for the men's division.

Through his affiliation with the NJCAA, LaPuma has had the opportunity to be involved with sports and athletics at the international level. He currently serves on the United Collegiate Sports Council whose goal is to promote the development of international collegiate sport on an amateur basis. He is also on the Control Commission for the International University Sports Federation (Federation International Sports Universitaire - FISU). La Puma has done extensive travel both domestic and abroad as part of his responsibility to certify athletes at world championships and the summer and winter university games.

La Puma has over 38 years of dedication in the field of education and athletics, and presently teaches physical education part time at the community college level. Tom is married to Kay and they have three children, P.J., Mary Kay and Jackie, and four grandchildren Brendan, Tommy, Abby and Alyssa. In his leisure time Tom enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time at his cottage on the St. Lawrence River.

JoAnn Rust, Vice-President for the Women's Division

In 2005-2006, Dr. Rust will be completing her third and final term as Vice President in the Women's Division. She began her career with the NJCAA in the early 1980's as an Assistant Regional Director and then became Women's Director for Region I. She has served on and chaired numerous sport committees and is currently chairing the Swimming and Diving Committee. As a member of the executive committee she has been the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Rust has been an administrator at Pima Community College in Tucson Arizona, where she has lived since 1978. In her current role she serves as Division Dean of Instruction at the East Campus of the College.

Carol Eustis, Secretary-Treasurer for the Women's Division

Eustis has been the Dean of the School of Health Professions at The Community College of Baltimore County-Essex Campus for the past two years. Involved with the NJCAA for the past 20 years, Eustis coached field hockey and women's basketball at Essex. She won three national championships in field hockey and made three national tournament appearances in basketball. With a 355-164 overall record, she ranks 17th on the list of NJCAA inactive basketball coaches. Eustis received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina, her master's degree in Education from Towson University and is a graduate of the Morgan State University Community College Leadership Fellow Program. Along with her membership in the NJCAA, she is also a member of the The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions.

Eustis on the NJCAA: "The leadership opportunities over the last 20+ years as a regional director and Secretary-Treasurer of the NJCAA have been the foundation for my move into leadership at the Community College of Baltimore County. As Dean of the School of Health Professions I often draw upon the wealth of experiences provided by the NJCAA. I am pleased to have the opportunity to return service to the organization and its membership."

Ron Mann, Secretary-Treasurer for the Men's Division

Mann will begin his first term as the Secretary-Treasurer for the men's division in 2005-2006. He has been a Professor and the Coordinator of Athletics at Prince George's Community College (Md.) since 1968. In his tenure at Prince George's Mann coached the men's soccer team, the baseball team, the men's basketball team, the softball team and the bowling team. His 1978 men's soccer team advanced to the national tournament, winning the national championship. In 1962 Mann received his Bachelor of Science degree from Frostburg State College, where he lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball. He went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from George Washington University in 1965. An 11-time NJCAA Region 20 Coach of the Year, he was inducted in the NJCAA Region XX Hall of Fame in 1998. He is currently the Region 20 Assistant Director and the Region XX Standard & Ethics and Baseball Committee Chair. The 1999 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year, he is the past president of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference and was the NJCAA Soccer Coaches Association president from 1986-2003.