Flash Points:

• The SFU Faculty Athletics Mentor Committee has selected 24 mentors for the 2016-17 academic year.
• The mentors were selected after a nomination process by coaches and student-athletes.
• The FAM program, started in Fall 2014, aims to bring a better understanding of the relationship between athletics and academics at SFU.

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis Student-Athlete Development has announced its Faculty Athletics Mentors for the 2016-17 academic year.  After a nomination process led by coaches and student-athletes, the Faculty Athletics Mentor Committee, led by Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Art Remillard, has selected 24 mentors.
 
The Faculty Athletics Mentors (FAM) program was started by Dasha Cherkasov, Associate Director of Student-Athlete Development, and former Faculty Athletics Representative Maria Colmer in Fall 2014.  Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete & Leadership Development John Krimmel joins Cherkasov and Remillard on the Faculty Athletics Mentor Committee.
 
The program aims to bring a better understanding of the unique relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the challenges of undergraduate academic studies at SFU.  The program allows academics and athletics to effectively integrate the needs of each area.
 
The roles and responsibilities of Faculty Athletics Mentors include:
- Providing student-athletes with a person to contact with academic questions.
- Facilitating student-athlete and professor interactions.
- Attending a team meeting to discuss ways of balancing participation in athletics and achieving academic success.
- Building strong friendships with student-athletes and coaches.
- Meeting with prospective student-athletes during campus visits.
- Advising and helping newcomers adjust to college life.
- Attending games and special team functions.
- Traveling with the team to selected away competitions.
- Being a supportive fan.

2016-17 Faculty Athletic Mentors
 

Sport	Coach	Faculty Athletic Mentor
Band	Dan Atwood	Kent Tonkin, Instructor, Business Administration
Cheer	Tara Brumbaugh	Loretta Johnson, Assistant Professor, Biology
Dance	Tara Brumbaugh	Sarah Myers, Visiting Assistant Professor, History
Football	Chris Villarrial	Pat Farabaugh, Associate Professor, Communications Teelyn Mauney, Associate Professor, Sociology/Criminal Justice
Field Hockey	Stacey Bean	Stephanie Ivory, Assistant Professor, Education
Lacrosse	Kara Concheck	Kelly Garanich, Assistant Professor, Biology
Men's Basketball	Rob Krimmel	John Miko, Associate Dean,  School of Business Randy Frye, Dean, School of Business
Men's Golf	Derek Tyson	Ed Timmons, Associate Professor, Business Administration
Men's Soccer	Paulo Neto	Lauri Chose, Associate Professor, English
Men's Tennis	Rob Castille	Angela Balog, Instructor, Business Management
Track & Field/ Cross Country	Douglas Hoover	Amanda Martino, Assistant Professor, Biology Joe Melusky, Professor, Political Science
Men's Volleyball	Mike Rumbaugh	Maggie Kealey, Associate Professor, Business/Finance
Softball	Jennifer Patrick-Swift	Olivia Pethtel, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Swimming	Rory Coleman	Kirk Weixel, Professor, English
Women's Basketball	Joe Haigh	Tricia McFadden, Visiting Instructor, Marketing
Bowling	Tom Falbo	Jim Logue, Professor, Accounting/Finance
Women's Golf	Allison Mitzel	Ed Zovinka, Professor, Chemistry
Women's Soccer	Brenda van Stralen	Gail Drus, Assistant Professor, Biology
Women's Tennis	Rob Castille	Rachel Wagner, Assistant Professor, Engineering
Women's Volleyball	Sara McMullen	Jane Gleason, Lab Instructor, Chemistry
Water Polo	Pat Beemer	Denise Damico, Associate Professor, History