Chancellor appoints engineering researcher to serve as faculty athletics representative
LAWRENCE – Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little has appointed Susan Stagg-Williams, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, to serve as faculty athletics representative.
Stagg-Williams will serve as the university faculty's representative to Kansas Athletics, working on issues related to student-athlete welfare, academics, rules compliance and institutional control. She'll also serve on the Board of Directors of Kansas Athletics Inc., and the Advisory Committee to the Director of Athletics.
"Our student-athletes are high-profile representatives of our university, so it is important to maintain a strong relationship between our faculty and Kansas Athletics. Susan will serve as a vital link between academics and athletics, looking out for the welfare of our student-athletes as they seek to excel in the classroom and on the field of competition," said Gray-Little.
Stagg-Williams joined the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in 1999 and is director of the University of Kansas Biodiesel Initiative. She is also the leader of the Feedstock to Tailpipe research program, a multidisciplinary team which brings scientists from chemical, environmental and mechanical engineering as well as biology together to study the production of alternative fuels from algae.
"It is truly an honor to be selected to represent student-athletes, faculty, Kansas Athletics and the University of Kansas on campus, as well as at the Big 12 and NCAA levels. I look forward to being able to use my passion for academics, athletics and KU to serve in this role," said Stagg-Williams.
Stagg-Williams was honored earlier this year with the Steeples Service to Kansas Award for producing teaching activities related to biodiesel, which have been used by more than 2,000 K-12 students and 100 teachers across Kansas. She previously served on the Kansas Athletics Advisory Board in 2000-03 and 2005-06.
Stagg-Williams' appointment begins Jan. 1 and is renewable for up to a term of five years. She will replace Jerry Bailey, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies, who is completing a five-year term as faculty athletics representative.