Marie Stroman is the conference’s fourth full-time commissioner and first female to serve in this role for the A-R-C. Stroman's appointment with the A-R-C began on December 1, 2023. She serves as the chief executive officer, working closely with league presidents to advance the mission of the conference through oversight of awards, championships, compliance, fiscal responsibilities, governance, and strategic initiatives. The 2025-26 academic year will be Stroman's second full academic year with the league.
Stroman brings a wealth of experience as the commissioner of the former Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) before a merger was completed with the United East at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year. In this role, Stroman coordinated 16 sports, including championship events, while supervising two full-time employees and additional part-time interns. Stroman served as the primary compliance contact between the NCAA and member schools. During her time with the CSAC, she always looked to provide opportunities to enhance the student-athlete experience, including, providing the opportunity for student-athletes to participate at the NCAA Convention.
Prior to her time with the CSAC, she served as the Associate Executive Director for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) for just over a decade.
Stroman has been active at the NCAA going through the Pathway Program (2021-2022). She has attended the Gameday the DIII Way Ambassador Training in 2017 and 2019. Additionally, Stroman served as a mentor at the Student Immersion Program in 2017-2019. She also served on the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Committee (2014-2018).
Self-described as focused and deliberate, Stroman elevates the academic and athletic standards within the A-R-C. With her center-focus around student-athletes, the league will look to continue to enhance the student-athlete experience.
A native of Chaska, Minnesota, Stroman is thrilled to be working close to home in the Midwest. While a volleyball student-athlete at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., she served as chair of Division III SAAC where she represented student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Stroman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Educational Studies from Macalester and her Master of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership at the University of Washington.
Stroman is actively involved with Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA), Women Leaders in College Sports, and Junior League of Cedar Rapids.
Stroman, her husband, Logan, and their four children, Levi, Layla, Mia, and Macy, live in Marion, Iowa.
