Northwest Missouri State University has announced the appointment of Dr. Rhonda Beemer, an assistant professor of health and physical education in the University’s School of Health Science and Wellness, as its next faculty athletics representative.

The faculty athletics representative (FAR), in alignment with duties and functions outlined in the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative Handbook, helps ensure academic integrity and compliance in Northwest’s intercollegiate athletics program, serves as an advocate for student-athletes’ well-being and helps maintain institutional control of the athletics department. The FAR represents Northwest and its faculty in the University’s relationship with the NCAA.

Beemer succeeds Dr. Matt Walker, an assistant professor of communication, who recently resigned as Northwest’s FAR.

“Northwest is all about student-athlete success and Dr. Beemer, serving as our faculty athletics representative, adds depth, knowledge and empathy to our student-athlete experience,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said. “We are proud of our student-athlete success metrics and address compliance issues systematically – and our FARs have been a big part of this. We have had sterling FARs previously, and Dr. Beemer will carry on this tradition quite well as she brings new approaches to the table.”

Northwest Provost Dr. Jamie Hooyman, the University’s chief academic officer, added, “We are excited for Dr. Beemer to become the faculty athletic rep for Northwest. Her unique experiences as a faculty member, a former athletic trainer, a former collegiate athlete, and a coach make her an ideal liaison between academics and athletics. I have the utmost confidence that she will excel at uplifting the student-athlete experience while maintaining high academic integrity.”  

Beemer joined the Northwest faculty in the fall of 2015 and came to the institution from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. At Drake, Beemer was director of experiential education in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which involved her in communicating with constituents, organizing and planning assessment materials, and services as a student advocate. She also served on Drake’s Intercollegiate Athletic Council as a faculty representative of Drake’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Beemer has experience in collegiate athletics at multiple levels during two decades of work in higher education. Her professional experience includes work as a staff athletic trainer, and she maintains athletic training certification from the National Athletic Trainers’ Board of Certification. She also was a student-athlete, having competed in softball at Missouri Valley College.

“I understand what the support staff for those athletes need to allow for student-athlete success,” Beemer said. “Is staff present for those student-athletes? Is the staff also supported and have what they need? Are student-athletes being supported equally and appropriately? Are athletes completing student requirements? Are faculty supporting University curricular, co-curricular and athletic student events? The list could go on. Regardless of the issue, the well-being of the student-athlete involves all parties and their compliance.”

Beemer has a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in health sciences in administration and teaching in human performance and recreation. She earned her master’s degree in physical education from Eastern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with emphasis in health and fitness and athletic training at Missouri Valley College.