University of Utah psychology professor Jason Burrow-Sánchez will serve as the next NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), President Taylor Randall announced.
The FAR represents the institution and its faculty in relationships with the NCAA and the Pac-12 Conference. Internally, the representative serves as the liaison for student-athlete NCAA eligibility and academic success, as well as NCAA rules compliance—coordinating between the Office of the President, the faculty community and the Department of Athletics. The representative also is a resource to student-athletes on all academic and student welfare issues.
Burrow-Sánchez is a professor of counseling psychology and chair of the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education. He also served as a Presidential Leadership Fellow during the 2020-21 academic year.
“I am so pleased to have someone with professor Burrow-Sánchez’s background taking this critical role at the university,” Randall said. “With his experience in psychology and education, he will serve as an essential bridge between our student-athletes and their instructors and the larger athletics community.”
Burrow-Sánchez directs the Mountain Plains Region 8 Prevention Technology Transfer Center, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at the University of Utah. His research interests include the prevention and treatment of substance use for adolescents in school and community settings with a particular interest in Latinx adolescents. Burrow-Sánchez is a licensed psychologist in the state of Utah. He received his doctorate from the University of Oregon in 2003.
“I’m honored to serve as the new FAR at the U,” Burrow-Sánchez said. “This position serves as an important connection between athletics and the university community. I look forward to supporting student-athletes, faculty and university leaders in this role.”
Burrow-Sánchez replaces Karen Paisley, a professor in the College of Health, who has taken an appointment as assistant vice president for academic affairs and senior associate dean for undergraduate studies. Paisley served as the university’s faculty athletics representative for nine years.
“I look forward to working with Jason in this very important role,” said Mark Harlan, director of athletics. Harlan also thanked Paisley for the “enormously transformative work she has done in this role, for our department and at the national level. She has been a terrific partner and advocate for student-athletes.”
After a shared transition period, Burrow-Sánchez will begin his three-year term on July 1, 2022.