PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland has appointed Dr. Stephanie Salomone as the Faculty Athletic Representative beginning on July 1. Salomone, the first woman to serve as FAR for the Pilots, replaces long-time FAR Dr. Gary Malecha, who retired in June.

"I have so much deep respect and admiration for the skills, knowledge, and leadership of our coaches, trainers, and Athletics Department staff," Salomone said. "I am honored to be able to represent faculty interests to them, and to communicate their needs back to the faculty. Furthermore, I am excited to explore future partnerships between faculty and coaches to improve teaching on campus."

"We have been fortunate to have really engaged and supportive Faculty Athletic Representatives here at Portland dating back to Bob Duff, Larry Lewis and Gary Malecha," said Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam. "That trend continues with the appointment of Stephanie Salomone. In addition to being a respected professor and member of the University community, Stephanie understands the importance that athletics plays here on The Bluff. She will be a great bridge between our student-athletes, coaches and staff with the University faculty and administration."

Salomone earned a BA in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1997 before earning her MA on the same subject at Boston College in 1999. Salomone then went to UCLA to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 2005, before starting her current faculty position. During her time at UP, she has won numerous awards, including UP's 2009 Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2019 Oregon Academy of Sciences Outstanding Educator in STEM Higher Education Award.

After being on sabbatical for the 2020-21 academic year working with the Portland STEM Partnership, Salomone is returning as the Chair of Mathematics and Director of the STEM Education and Outreach Center on The Bluff, starting on July 1. On August 1, she will also begin her four-year appointment as an Associate Director of Project NExT, a national professional development and networking program for higher education mathematics faculty.

Salomone looks forward to helping provide a more holistic experience for student-athletes and working with the coaching staffs on campus to help improve instructional practices.

"I seek to understand the equity and inclusive practices that are being used by our athletics department, but prefer to consider impacts rather than effort, and that is a conversation worth having over and over," Salomone said. "I look forward to listening to our coaches, athletes and other athletic staff as we work together as thought partners to come up with ways to best support our student-athletes as whole people."
 
Salomone replaces long-time FAR Gary Malecha, who is retiring from his position as Tyson Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science and Global Affairs after 29 years. In his final year on The Bluff Malecha served as the Interim Dean of the Pamplin School of Business, after previously serving as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2017-18.