Staff Directory
- Title:
- Faculty Athletics Representative
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OMAHA, Neb. – Dr. HollyAnn Harris, professor of chemistry and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named Creighton University’s Faculty Athletics Representative, President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD announced on Aug. 25, 2023.
The Faculty Athletics Representative serves as the principal faculty spokesperson in conveying, representing, and protecting the academic mission, values and goals of a University as reflected in the office of intercollegiate athletics. The FAR should exercise three primary roles:
1. Support a quality student-athlete experience and student-athlete well-being.
2. Support the academic integrity of the athletics program.
3. Support institutional control and rules compliance of the intercollegiate athletics program.
At Creighton, the position also chairs the Creighton Athletic Board which includes faculty, staff and students. The role is a liaison to the BIG EAST Conference office, as well.
“Dr. Harris has been a consistent advocate for students and student-athletes across her teaching and administrative roles during her tenure at Creighton,” Fr. Hendrickson said. “She is someone who embodies cura personalis in her advocacy of athletics as a complementary component to the educational experience, providing our students with opportunities to showcase leadership, critical thinking, and service to others.”
“The Faculty Athletics Representative is the glue that binds together our academic mission with our responsibilities as an athletics department in serving the student as well as the athlete,” said Creighton’s McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom. “Dr. Harris has been a hands-on, dedicated champion ensuring our students can balance their time in the classroom with competition and excel at both. She will be a wonderful asset in this vital role.”
Harris joined Creighton University in 1990 as the inaugural Clare Booth Luce Faculty Chair for Women in Science and, in the years since, has served as a faculty member, chairwoman of the Department of Chemistry, and, for the past 13 years, an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I have always been interested in athletics and the key role that athletics, recreational and organized, can play in human development,” noted Harris. “As associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, I have worked closely with the athletic academic advisors and have developed a large amount of respect for how they support our student-athletes and what the student-athletes go through to be successful in both arenas.”
A 2022 recipient of the Mary Lucretia and Sarah Emily Creighton Award, Harris has been a mentor to students and student-athletes alike for more than 30 years. In her administrative roles, Harris has been deeply involved in issues of scheduling, academic policy, retention, and more, all of which are vital to the success of student athletes. She has also been recognized for her service with awards for distinguished service as an administrator, for her work in first-year student advising, and curriculum development.
Additionally, Harris has served as the College of Arts and Sciences liaison to Creighton Athletics, working closely with Dr. Lisa Chipps, associate athletic director of academics and senior woman administrator.
“The relationship between Creighton Athletics and academics is very strong,” Harris continued. “I give kudos to our Athletic Department for always being cognizant of the ‘student’ part of the student-athlete. I also understand there are areas that we can work on, so I want to make sure that there continues to be good, even improved, communication in both directions. I am also interested to see how student-athletes in programs that require clinical experience, internships or research laboratory hours balance their commitments.”
Creighton has annually ranked among the national leaders in Graduation Success Rate and last year its student-athletes owned a cumulative GPA of 3.49. The University had 196 student-athletes make the Dean’s List at least once in 2022-23 and 20 percent of its student-athletes secured a perfect 4.0 GPA last spring. Additionally, three Bluejay teams were recognized with 2022-23 Team Academic Excellence Awards for compiling the highest grade point average in their respective sport within the BIG EAST.
Harris replaces Dr. Neil Norton, who died in November after an extended battle with pancreatic cancer. Norton had served in the Faculty Athletics Representative role for 12 years.
“The impact that Dr. Norton had on Creighton Athletics as the University’s Faculty Athletics Representative will be felt by our community for many years to come,” Fr. Hendrickson said. “Whether it was navigating the transition to the BIG EAST Conference, enhancing our investment in academic support resources, or the hundreds of relationships he built with our student-athletes, coaches, and fans, he was a wonderful advocate for our Bluejays.”
“Dr. Norton was much, much more than our Faculty Athletic Representative. He was an incredible mentor, a vocal advocate and a trusted friend,” Chipps said. “He will be deeply missed by our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
Dr. Harris begins her duties as Faculty Athletics Representative effective immediately.
