David L. Neilson was appointed commissioner of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in the fall of 2002. He is the eighth person to lead the nation's oldest collegiate conference.

A 1966 graduate of MIAA member Albion College, Neilson spent his professional career as an executive in the automotive parts industry and more recently in management consulting.

Neilson majored in physical education and economics at Albion where he lettered four years in football at quarterback. As a senior he achieved All-America recognition and was drafted and played briefly for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also received post-graduate credits from the University of Pittsburgh and Lehigh University in marketing and finance.

With over 32 years of background in automotive supply, his assignments included program management, general management and training and development. Most of his career was spent with Rockwell International where he was a "start-up" specialist achieving several launch successes, including Rockwell CVC, its joint venture with Fiat in Italy. He was executive vice president of the Intermet Corporation from 1997-01.

He has been a teacher and coach in several school and community programs and in recent years has been a visiting lecturer of marketing at Oakland University where he also served on the university's marketing advisory council.

Neilson resides in Royal Oak. He and his wife Karen have four children and five grandchildren.

Commissioners of the MIAA

Clark Heeron, 1922-1931
James Hasselman, 1931-1933
DeGay Ernst, 1933-1961
Win Schuler, Sr., 1961-1965
John Hoekje, 1965-1971
Albert Deal, 1971-1991
Sheila Wallace-Kovalchik, 1991-2002
David Neilson, 2002-present

Questions or Comments? E-Mail the MIAA at miaa@miaa.org