GREENVILLE, S.C. - Dr. Jennifer Hallett of Young Harris College has been named the NCAA Division II Faculty Athletics Representatives Associations (FARA) 2024 Faculty Athletic Representative of the Year.
Now in her 16th year, Hallett was nominated by former Athletic Director Jennifer Rushton.
The FAR (Faculty Athletics Representative) is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated by the institution to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletics department, and as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. The role of the FAR is to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics.
Dr. Hallett has acquired multiple accolades throughout her career. Hallett attended the D2 FAR Fellows Institute in 2014. She was the FAR Council vice chair in 2014-15 before being elevated to Council Chair in 2015 and serving in that role for two years. Dr. Hallett was the Peach Belt Conference FAR liaison from 2017to 2020. Most recently, she was part of the D2 Far Advancement Leadership Institute in 2022. On top of all these accomplishments, Dr. Hallett has served on several subcommittees at the conference and institutional level.
Dr. Hallett was the College's first FAR in the NCAA era. Two main programs she has implemented were the "Return to Learn" and the Accountability program.
Return to Learn is a concussion protocol geared toward helping the student athlete recover and still succeed in the classroom.
With the accountability program she designed, it is used to help first years and first year athletes. It has provided first years with a faculty mentor and had mandatory study hours. The overall goal being to support new student athletes.
Dr. Hallett continues to help in all aspects. She serves as an athletics representative on multiple committees to make sure the voice of athletics is always a part of the conversation and helps with compliance if any investigations arise.