Photos by Erin Pence/Graphic by John Strawn
Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Gary Williams hopes to maintain a healthy balance between academics and athletics with the appointment of Assistant Professor of Sport Management Julie Aylsworth and Assistant Professor of Education Brian Yontz as the university’s new Faculty Athletics Representatives (FAR).
Aylsworth is serving in the role during the spring 2015 semester while current FAR, Associate Professor of Business Wendy Gradwohl, is on a teaching sabbatical. Gradwohl will return to the role for the fall 2015 semester, and then Aylsworth will assume the position full-time in January 2016. Yontz has stepped into the other FAR position to replace Professor Emeritus of Economics Jeff Ankrom, who retired in December.
An FAR is a university faculty member designated to serve as a liaison between the institution and its athletics department and as a representative in conference and NCAA affairs. Faculty members appointed to these positions work to maintain an appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics.
Aylsworth joined the faculty at Wittenberg in 2011 after previously leading the sport management program at Mount St. Mary’s University. She has been published in various professional journals, including the Journal of Sport Management, and she has also conducted marketing activities for the Department of Athletics at Ohio State University in her career. Aylsworth earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing, master’s in sport & exercise science and her Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State.
“I am very excited to take on this role and serve our university,” Aylsworth said. “I want student-athletes at Wittenberg to maximize their experience, and serving as FAR is a pledge to ensure this happens. In turn, I anticipate the FAR position will further inform my teaching and research areas, enhancing the classroom experience for my students.”
Yontz has worked at Wittenberg since 2006 after serving as the partnership and outreach coordinator at Wright State University. He was the director of student teaching and teacher placement for three years at Wittenberg before moving into a full-time teaching role. A native of Springfield, Yontz earned his bachelor’s degree from Asbury College, his master’s from Wright State and his Ph.D. from Ohio State.
“Engaging with our student-athletes and their coaches is mission-centered, and some of the most important work our faculty does,” Yontz said. “I’m excited to stand alongside the Department of Athletics and the NCAA to maximize our student-athletes’ experience at Wittenberg.”
Williams said the department he has overseen since arriving on campus in June 2014 is strengthened by a healthy relationship with the faculty and staff. Wittenberg has a long tradition of cooperation between the Department of Athletics and the university’s faculty, and Williams anticipates a smooth transition to Yontz and Aylsworth.
“We had many great years of service by Jeff Ankrom for which we as a university will forever be grateful,” Williams said. “We also want to thank Wendy Gradwohl, who has been a nationally recognized leader in Division III as an FAR, and are pleased she will remain on through next January as we transition. We are all looking forward to the impact Brian and Julie will make on the lives of our student-athletes.”
Written By: Ryan Maurer