DeKALB, IL – Redshirt-Senior Paulina Castro (Elgin, Ill./Harvest Christian) of the Northern Illinois University women's basketball team has been selected as the Mid-American Conference's representative to the newly-formed NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group.
 
The group, formed in collaboration with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, will serve as an amplifying voice for women's basketball on key initiatives, legislation and other issues. It consists of current NCAA Division I women's basketball student-athletes with each of the 32 conferences having one representative.
 
"It's such an honor to be a part of this group and to be able to represent the MAC," Castro said. "This group is special and allows us to collectively communicate our opinion on important discussion topics. With all the different circumstances and uncertainties student-athletes are having to face this year, it's very important that we have a voice in decisions that directly impact us. The fact that I get to be a part of this and represent not only NIU but the MAC is incredible, and I'm so excited for this new role."
 
Each representative was nominated through the WBCA NCAA Division I Conference Captains program that includes a head coach or captain in each conference that communicates regularly on important issues with the WBCA. Each captain submitted the name of a student-athlete from their school or conference they believed would be a good representative for their respective conference.
 
"Paulina is a perfect representative for this NCAA student leadership group," said NIU women's basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen. "Her experience with SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), our diversity and inclusion committee and her status as a captain on our team give her great perspective during a time where perspective is critical. She will be a great voice for the MAC in discussions on crucial issues."


 
--NIU--