President-elect Barack Obama isn't the only person taking on a new national leadership role in January.

At the conclusion of January's NCAA Convention, Matt Baysinger will become chair of the Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), replacing former Lafayette basketball student-athlete Kerry Kenny. Baysinger, a former track and field student-athlete at Kansas, currently serves as the committee's vice-chair.

The D-I National SAAC is made up of 31 student-athletes from around the country, each representing a Division I multi-sport conference. The committee meets to discuss NCAA legislative issues, and serves as a public outlet for campus SAAC representatives and student-athletes around the country.

A few weeks ago, the Double-A Zone attended the Division I Regional Leadership Conference in La Jolla, California. We talked with Baysinger about his new SAAC position, the lessons he learned as a student-athlete and his career goals.

After visiting with Baysinger and other Division I SAACers throughout the event, it is clear the voices of all student-athletes will continue to be heard by this dedicated group of leaders.

The Double-A Zone's interview with Baysinger can be heard here.