PULLMAN, Wash. — Nancy Swanger, associate dean and director of the Washington State University School of Hospitality Management and an associate professor with the Carson College of Business, has been named as the university’s new faculty athletic representative by President Kirk Schulz.
Swanger will succeed Agricultural Economics Professor Ken Casavant, who has held the position since 1999. She will also continue to serve in her current position during the term of her appointment.
As WSU’s faculty athletics representative or FAR, Swanger will serve under the direction of Schulz and play a critical role ensuring the academic integrity of WSU’s intercollegiate athletics program, facilitating institutional control of intercollegiate athletics, and enhancing the student-athlete experience.
In announcing the appointment, Schulz said Swanger, who will assume the post effective May 16, will play a key role in establishing policy and direction for WSU athletics and have primary responsibility for monitoring the academic performance of student athletes. She also will serve as chair of the WSU Athletic Council and liaison to the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA.
“Nancy’s management expertise and passion for excellence – combined with a deep commitment to the success of our students – make her an outstanding choice for FAR,” Schulz said. “I’m looking forward to working with Nancy and our intercollegiate athletics leadership to continue to enhance the student-athlete experience at WSU.”
Swanger joins Schulz, WSU Athletic Director Bill Moos and Deputy Director Anne McCoy as the university’s four representatives to the Pac-12 and NCAA.
“Nancy’s passion for intercollegiate athletics along with her genuine interest in providing a positive experience for student-athletes will make her outstanding in this role,” Moos said of Swanger’s appointment. “I am looking forward to working with her.”
As the faculty’s athletics representative, Swanger will also provide significant leadership in the governance of WSU’s intercollegiate athletics programs and represent the president—in academic and student-athlete matters—to the athletic department and the WSU faculty.
“I am very honored and humbled to assume this important role at WSU,” Swanger said. “I look forward to working with academic and athletic leadership on this campus and am especially excited for the opportunity to be involved with student-athletes.”
The appointment is a part-time, 12-month position based in Pullman. It has a term of three years with the possibility of renewal, and includes annual reviews. Casavant, who will continue to serve in the post until May 16, will assist Swanger in transitioning to the position.
Swanger, who has been with the College of Business since 2000, has considerable expertise in quick service restaurants, having owned or managed a variety of operations for the past 30 years. Her research interests include risk environment in hospitality operations; temperament and profitability; visible body modification; and hospitality curriculum.
The School of Hospitality Business Management began as the “hotel management” major in the College of Home Economics in 1932. It became “hotel and restaurant administration” in 1951, and “hospitality business management” in 2002. The SHBM offers a hospitality-focused business education from the fully accredited WSU College of Business, with expert instruction in the field of hospitality business management. It is consistently rated in the top 10 percent of similar programs in the world. The program celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2017.
News Media contact:
Robert Strenge, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu