Ethan Kristek Named New FAR

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Danielle Doerfler, Director of Athletics at Fontbonne University, announced that Ethan Kristek is the new Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).

"Ethan knows the SLIAC, Fontbonne University and Fontbonne athletics very well," commented Doerfler. "As a previous athlete, Ethan knows the dedication, hard work, and balance of a division III student athlete. Kay has done a wonderful job mentoring him for this prestigious position. We look forward to working with him in 2023 and beyond. Thank you, Ethan!" 

His main duty as a FAR is to serve as a liaison between the athletics department and the faculty while also representing the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and NCAA affairs. The role of the FAR is to ensure that Fontbonne establishes and maintains appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics.

"I have been a part of Fontbonne University as a student-athlete, alumni, or employee since 2009 and I am glad and honored to add the role of Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to this amazing experience," Kristek shared.

He continued, "As a former student-athlete, the time I had with my teammates were some of my fondest memories and still make me laugh and smile with the experiences helping me succeed later in life. As the new FAR, I hope for student-athletes to have similar and positive collegiate experiences."

Kristek, who earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degree from Fontbonne, is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Deaf Education. He has been employed by Fontbonne since 2019 teaching and supervising speech-language therapy sessions, certified speech-language pathologist, of eight years, with an expertise in adult neurogenic communication disorders. 

During his time as a Griffin, Kristek was a member of the men's soccer team as well as the men's volleyball team from 2009 until 2013. He received The SLIAC Post Graduate Scholarship in 2012-13.

Kristek enjoys watching sports, reading, running, and being with family and friends.

Kay Graves has announced her departure as a FAR due to her retirement. In 2022, she was named NCAA Division II FAR of the Year. We appreciate everything that she has done for us during her time here at Fontbonne.

What is a FAR?

The faculty athletics representative (FAR) plays an important role on college campuses, providing oversight of the academic integrity of the athletics program and serving as an advocate for student-athlete well-being. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires each of its member institutions to appoint an FAR who must be on the faculty or administrative staff and may not hold a position in the athletics department. Previous surveys of the FARs have provided a valuable perspective on the current state of intercollegiate athletics as viewed by these faculty members with direct connections to the athletics programs at their schools. The current report, based on a 2011 survey of more than 650 FARs, provides a comprehensive, contemporary look at the FAR experience and a valuable comparison to prior surveys.