"We have decided to reposition our staff in a way that allows us to not only provide excellent service to our membership but also best prepare for our future as a conference," said first-year Commissioner Nero. The staff moves come just over a week after Nero began his role as conference Commissioner on August 8.

Ruppert begins her 13th-season at America East and is the senior-most member of the 10-person staff. With her promotion from Associate Commissioner to Senior Associate Commissioner, Ruppert will remain the highest ranking administrator at America East, next to Nero. Ruppert will serve as Chief of Staff, overseeing the daily operations of the conference office and activities of the conference staff, and Senior Woman Administrator.

"Julie has been a crucial part of our administration for many years,” said Nero. “Over the past six months as Interim Commissioner she has had the opportunity to show her leadership and organization skills. She will now be able to continue to use these skills in the position of Senior Associate Commissioner."

In 1993 Ruppert started working with America East as Assistant Commissioner, serving as the primary league media contact for several sports, including women’s basketball, while also coordinating the planning for the conference’s championships. She was promoted to Associate Commissioner to 1996.

Entering his ninth season at America East, Bourque advances from Assistant Commissioner for Communications, a position he held for each of the previous eight seasons, to Associate Commissioner. Bourque will be the conference’s primary contact for basketball operations and external affairs, including America East television endeavors.

"In his past role as Assistant Commissioner for Communications, Matt has served as the public relations and media director for the conference,” Nero said. “This new role allows him to build on his experience and influence our conference through the marketing and sales areas. He also will play a larger role in the administration of men's and women's basketball, two marquee sports in our conference. We have confidence that Matt will help us grow in these areas."

Prior to his start at America East, Bourque worked as Sports Information Director at the University of Maine from 1990-97. A 1989 graduate of Maine, an America East charter member institution, Bourque served one year as Assistant SID at the school before becoming head SID in 1990.

Assistant Director for Communications the past two seasons, Cardinal becomes the Director of Communications and Web Services and will now administer the conference’s media relations program, while designing and developing all league publications and the America East’s official website, www.AmericaEast.com.

"KJ will now oversee the daily communications of the conference,” said Nero. “He brings valuable experience in not only media relations but also as the point person for americaeast.com. This will be an expanding area of our office and KJ will provide us great leadership."

A 2003 graduate of Northeastern University, Cardinal served his alma mater as Student Assistant Sports Information Director and men’s basketball contact from 2000-2003.

After serving one year as Assistant to the Commissioner for Championships and Compliance, Jarret enters his second season at America East as the Director of Championships and Sports Administration. Jarret will administer all aspects of the conference’s championship events, with the exception of men’s and women’s basketball.

Nero commented on Jarret, "The administration of our championship events are an important part of our role as a conference. Matt has proven to be a quality administrator in his time in our conference and we appreciate his acceptance of these new responsibilities."

Jarret came to America East in 2004-05 after serving one year as the Sports Administration Intern at the Big East Conference. A 2000 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned four letters in men’s Division I ice hockey, Jarret worked as a Graduate Assistant for the UConn Counselling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes in 2002-03, later earning his Master of Arts in Education (Sport Management) in 2004.