Mary Washington

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Kolar, Associate Professor of Psychological Science, as our new NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative. The Faculty Athletic Representative is an NCAA-mandated position appointed by and reporting directly to the President, and serves as a liaison between the athletics department and the faculty. This role includes bringing faculty/academic concerns to the athletics department and providing faculty with updates and information about the athletics program, as well as working with faculty, the UFC, deans, the provost, the director of athletics, coaches, and other constituencies to address concerns about and develop ways to support our student-athletes. The goal is to maintain a high quality Division III athletics program.

As Faculty Athletic Representative, Dr. Kolar will work to implement and support the NCAA Division III objectives: “To establish and maintain an environment in which a student’s athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience, and an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among student-athletes and athletics staff.”

Dave Kolar came to UMW in 1994 and has been a mentor and support to students both in and out of the classroom for more than 25 years. He regularly attends Mary Washington soccer, basketball, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, and softball games, and he has served as the faculty liaison for women’s soccer for several years. Most recently, he was head women’s golf coach for the 2019-2020 season. Dr. Kolar’s experiences with our student-athletes, particularly as a head coach, have given him unique insights into our athletic program that will serve him well in his new role.

Professor Kolar has assumed a number of titles at Mary Washington, including Chair of the Department of Psychological Science, Chair of the University Faculty Affairs Committee, and a continuing member of UMW’s Institutional Review Board. 

He received a B.A. in psychology from San Diego State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in social/personality psychology from the University of California, Riverside.

-Dr. Nina Mikhalevsky, UMW Provost