Amy Carlton has been named commissioner of the affiliated American Southwest Conference after serving in an interim commissioner role since July 1, 2006, the ASC Council of Presidents announced Thursday, Feb. 8.

"Amy Carlton served the American Southwest Conference well as the assistant commissioner and interim commissioner," said East Texas Baptist University president Bob Riley, head of the ASC Council of Presidents. "The ASC Council of Presidents voted to name her Commissioner and we believe that under Amy's leadership, we can achieve the ASC goal of becoming the premiere NCAA Division III conference."

Carlton, 47, becomes the second full-time commissioner of the ASC following Fred Jacoby, who retired in June 2006 after guiding the ASC for 10 years as the league's first commissioner (1996-2006). Carlton joined the ASC staff as director of media relations in January 2002 and was promoted to assistant commissioner in May 2003.

Carlton becomes one of 12 women who serve as commissioner of an NCAA Division III conference, guiding the largest conference among the 12.

"I am honored to have been selected to lead the American Southwest Conference," Carlton said. "I look forward to the challenge of working in a conference that is competitive athletically and that strives to provide its student-athletes with an athletic experience that matches the quality academic experience on their respective campuses.

"I want to thank my predecessor, Fred Jacoby, for establishing a solid foundation for the conference and its members. Fred continues to be a mentor to me and many within the ASC," Carlton added.

A native of Greencastle, Ind., Carlton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism cum laude from Franklin in 1981 and completed graduate courses in athletic administration at Western Illinois.

Carlton spent more than 20 years on college and university campuses, including 13 and a half years in sports information operations at three NCAA Division I institutions. Carlton and husband Chuck, a writer in the Dallas Morning News sports department, have a daughter, Taylor Lynne, and reside in Flower Mound, Texas.