Title and Department: faculty athletics representative and biological sciences professor

Hometown: Dearborn Heights, MI

Degrees/Certificates: a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Michigan State, and doctor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Years of dedicated service at S&T:  27 years and in the FAR position 11 years.

What does a faculty athletics representative do? As FAR I serve as a liaison between academics and athletics. I work with our compliance officer to ensure student athletes are academically eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. I also try to communicate with faculty about the value of intercollegiate athletics and make sure they understand the important contributions our student athletes provide to our campus and its reputation. In the GLVC (our athletics conference) FARs also serve as voting members on policy and legislation so I attend all conference meetings, serve on conference committees, and vote on conference awards. I also try to attend as many games as I can to show my support for the student-athletes and to share their accomplishments with faculty and administration.  

What do you enjoy most about your work? Getting to work with and for our amazing student athletes.

What is one thing on your bucket list? Visit Sweden where my great grandparents on my father’s side emigrated from. (My name is Swedish, not German as most people tend to think.)

What do you do for fun? Making ager art, walks with my wife, riding my clunky old bike, and playing golf – although I don’t do that nearly as much as I would like.

What is something that others may not know about you? I was a terrible student in high school and that carried over to my first couple years of college until I discovered the wonders of the microbial world.

What is your favorite place on campus? The Innovation Lab. I love the energy of the place with students hanging out all around the building, studying, having fun, building stuff. Lot’s of fun spots to just hang out. My favorite spot is the comfy seats that look out over the round-a-bout where I can sit and read and watch the world go by.

What would you describe as the most important personal attributes or strengths that you bring to your work? I truly care about our students and their success. Our students have earned the right to be here and deserve all the support we can provide to help them succeed.

What is the best advice you have ever received? My dad and I shared a love for golf as I was growing up and he would often remind me of the quote from the golfer Walter Hagen – “You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”