Dr. Houston Byrd Named Faculty Athletics Representative

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Dr. Houston Byrd has been appointed Faculty Athletics Representative for the University of Montevallo announced University President Dr. John W. Stewart III. Byrd will replace Robyn Hagler, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

Byrd is a 15-year member of the Montevallo faculty. He is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. He currently serves as the Chair of the Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee. He has spent the past two years as a member of the President’s Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.

He was the Director of the Honors Program from 2003-2008 and has served as the Chair on numerous committees across the Montevallo campus.

He was awarded the University of Montevallo Scholar Award in 2006 and was presented the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award by the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association in 2002.

He was a 1989 graduate of Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1994 in inorganic/materials chemistry.

An FAR is a member of the faculty at an NCAA-member institution. He or she has been designated by the university or college to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletics department, and also as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs.

The involvement of the FAR includes eligibility or academic related duties, maintaining an atmosphere of compliance and institutional control, and assisting in investigations of rules compliance. The FAR also serves as a key contact for student-athletes.