Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western State University’s president, has appointed Dr. Regan Dodd as Missouri Western’s faculty athletics representative. Dr. Dodd, assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation, will succeed Dr. Brenda Blessing following the annual Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) conference in June.
“The faculty athletics representative serves a vital role in ensuring the academic integrity of our athletic program and the welfare of our student-athletes,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “I am grateful to Dr. Blessing for filling that role so ably for many years, and I’m certain that Dr. Dodd will continue in her tradition.”
The faculty athletics representative is a position required by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to serve as a liaison between the university and the Department of Athletics. At Missouri Western, the representative serves on all search committees for head coaches and athletic administrative positions, works with the registrar to monitor the eligibility of student-athletes, and in the president’s absence represents Missouri Western at NCAA and MIAA meetings, among other duties.
Dr. Dodd has been a faculty member at Missouri Western since 2012, and previously served as an instructor of physical education and head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Baker University and a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Kansas. She earned a Ph.D. in health education from the University of Kansas, a Master of Business Administration from Baker University, a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science from Northwest Missouri State University, and an associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College.
Dr. Blessing, professor and chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, has been faculty athletics representative since 2000, and has served as vice president and president of the MIAA and as a member of the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Indiana State University and a Ph.D in Recreation from The Ohio State University. Dr. Blessing has been a member of Missouri Western’s faculty since 1987.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.