USRowing Board Appoints Zagunis as At-Large Member, Sets Northeast Special Election Date

Veteran governance leader and lifelong rowing advocate brings deep nonprofit, finance, and sport leadership experience to USRowing Board

June 4, 2026 — USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Robert Zagunis as an At-Large member of the Board. On Monday, June 8th, USRowing will also send a call fornominations to members to submit their candidacy for the Northeast Region Representative to the Board of Directors. This special election is to fill out the current term through February 2029. 

Zagunis brings decades of board-level governance experience across sport, nonprofit leadership, and finance, along with a longstanding record of service to rowing and Olympic sport. He currently serves as a Trustee of the United States Rowing Foundation, where his involvement has included committee service and direct support for high performance initiatives. He previously served on the USRowing Board of Directors (1990–1994), including as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee, and has supported the rowing community in roles spanning officiating, event leadership, and local and national fundraising efforts. 

“Robert brings the kind of governance experience and steady leadership that is especially valuable for USRowing right now,” said Don Reynolds, Acting Board Chair of USRowing. “He understands this organization and our sport while bringing deep financial and nonprofit leadership expertise. He has a track record of putting the long-term interests of athletes, members, and the organization first. We’re grateful he’s stepping into this role and confident he will strengthen the Board as we continue building toward LA28 and beyond.” 

USRowing’s Board establishes non-binding criteria intended to ensure members bring complementary skill sets and a collegial, organization-first approach to governance, including significant board-level experience and expertise in areas such as fundraising, financial management, talent and HR leadership, and communications/marketing/sponsorship. Zagunis’ background aligns closely with those priorities through senior financial leadership and decades of board and executive committee service, including extensive nonprofit governance and fundraising leadership. 

“I’m honored to join the USRowing Board as an At-Large member,” said Robert Zagunis. “I’ve been part of this sport and this organization in many different ways over the years, and I believe deeply in rowing’s future in the United States. I’m excited to contribute to strong governance and to support the people doing the work every day—athletes, coaches, clubs, and staff—as we continue to build momentum toward LA28.” 

Zagunis will hold his partial-term seat through February 2027. Amongst his responsibilities in this role, Zagunis and all the other directors will help guide the overall direction of the organization, including setting policy, approving the annual budget, and monitoring financial operations.He has been appointed to the Executive Search Committee who is seeking a permanent Chief Executive Officer for the organization. 

Northeast Regional Representative Special Election 

USRowing will send a Call for Nominations to begin the process of filling the Northeast Regional Representative seat through February 2029, on Monday June 8th, 2026.  

Although Section 54 of the Bylaws allows the Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the Board, the Board has determined in this instance to hold a special election to allow nominees to come forward and to allow USRowing members in the Northeast Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) to elect their representative to fill this vacancy.  

Interested parties should check back on USRowing.org for more information, details on the process, and the required forms. 

About USRowing 
USRowing is the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States, responsible for stewarding, strengthening, and growing American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport. USRowing serves a broad and dedicated community—athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs, and event organizers—and the U.S. National Team. Through events, programming, education, and fundraising, USRowing supports participation at every level—from learn-to-row novices through the high performance athletes dedicated to reaching Olympic and Paralympic podium. 

Media inquiries: media@usrowing.org