Theresa Walton-Fisette, Ph.D., is 91ֿ's new faculty athletic representative (FAR). This position ensures the academic integrity of intercollegiate athletics, facilitates an inclusive environment and enhances the student athletic experience. Walton-Fisette's new role will begin July 1, 2023.
Walton-Fisette joined 91ֿ’s faculty in 2003. She is a professor and researcher in the sport administration program in the College of Education, Health and Human Services. She will continue as professor and researcher as she takes on the role of faculty athletic representative.
91ֿ Today reached out to Walton-Fisette to ask about her new role.
How would you describe 91ֿ's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics?
91ֿ has a commitment to a comprehensive athletics program. Instead of specializing in certain sports, they really have attempted to have as many different sporting opportunities as possible. They really try to give each sport the resources they are able to afford to be successful. They also have always prioritized spending on academics, increasingly putting resources into their academic resource center and their academic staff to help student-athletes to be as successful in the classroom as possible. Their success does really make them stand out because it's not just one or two programs that do well academically. We tend to think of academic opportunities for athletics mainly in terms of athletes themselves, but there are so many students across so many programs that also get academic experiences working with athletics. Students in communication studies, journalism, athletic training, digital media students, there are students all across campus who have academic experiences. For tons of students, athletics is a learning lab for them. They go and work in a place where they're getting real-life experiences and where athletics values and wants them there. They're not just shadowing someone, they're doing real jobs that are important.
How will you be taking your experience in investigating power relationships, and knowledge with Title IX and using it within your new position?
It's just the way I see and understand the world because that's my academic training. Really it's one of the reasons I think I was chosen for this because in every room that I'm in, I'm paying attention to those dynamics. When decisions are being made those are the things that I'll bring to the forefront, for us to consider and think about. 91ֿ just announced that they will be doing the Alston payments, which is payment for education-related expenses for athletes up to $5,980. I think 91ֿ was already oriented towards this, but it's really important that we be thinking of gender equity in terms of those kinds of payments as well.
What are your takeaways from Kathryn Wilson, Ph.D., and her 18 years as FAR?
Dr. Wilson is amazing. It’s interesting to be stepping into her shoes because I’ll be totally different from her in that role. For one: she had 18 years of experience, but two: she really is one of the most diplomatic, fair and kind people that I know. I don't know many people who could live up to her standards when it comes to these things, but I use that as a model and try to act accordingly. The lucky thing for me is that she’s still here at 91ֿ. Since I've come here to 91ֿ, she's also been one of my main academic mentors. We're not too different in age but she is a lot more sagacious than I am. That relationship will continue. We do research together. She’s someone that I really really respect and admire. Whenever I have questions, or I’m uncertain, she's the person that I turn to. Not just for the FAR role but in general in terms of my academic life.
91ֿ’s athletic strategic plan “Play as One,” has eight priority areas and 20 goals. Which priority area, or goal would you like to highlight as you move forward?
Dr. Wilson put the gender equity study as part of what the intercollegiate athletic committees will now take up every year. They will look at gender equity as part of that committee that will be standing a report. She also put an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. That is also something that is a self-reported mechanism that she put in that strategic plan to take place on a continual basis as well. I think those two things are really important in terms of the strategic plan keeping us going in a direction that's really important. Then, also highlighting the success that 91ֿ has already had academically and supporting and maintaining that success.
What are you currently researching or what is your passion project right now?
One of the research projects that I'm doing right now is looking at the economics of the MAC conference. It's really important because most of the research and media attention is focused on the Power Five, with very little attention on how different things are for us. When we're making our economic decisions, we really need to have a more clear idea of where the money is coming from and how it's being spent. The other one that I'm working on right now is on concussions, especially what the NCAA has known about concussions over time. I'm reading a lot of research from 1906 and the 1920s, and into the 30s, where already the NCAA was aware of the long-term damage of concussions.
To read more about Walton-Fisette, visit /ehhs/fla/spad/profile/dr-theresa-walton-fisette.