Contact: Jim Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Brent J. Fountain has been named Mississippi State University’s next faculty athletics representative, or FAR. His term as FAR will begin July 1, 2020.

A longtime faculty member in the MSU Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and former president of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, Fountain is currently leading the MSU Career Center as interim director. He also is an assistant vice president intern in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.

The FAR plays a strategic role at the university, ensuring the academic integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program, facilitating institutional control of intercollegiate athletics, enhancing the student-athlete experience, and advising the president and director of athletics.

“I appreciate Dr. Fountain’s willingness to serve in this very important leadership role,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “I look forward to working with him as we help our student-athletes reach their greatest potential in the classroom and in their chosen sport.”

Steve Turner, director of the Southern Rural Development Center and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, has served as MSU’s faculty athletics representative since 2005.

“Dr. Turner has been an exemplary faculty athletics representative and a true advocate for our student-athletes, their academic success, and for academic integrity,” Keenum said. “I am grateful for his many contributions to our students and our athletics program.”

The FAR represents MSU and its faculty in the relationship between the NCAA and the institution. The FAR also provides significant leadership in the governance of MSU’s intercollegiate athletics programs, represents the president in academic and student-athlete matters to the athletic department and MSU’s faculty, and chairs the university’s Athletic Council.

Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter led the FAR search committee.

Bracky Brett, executive senior associate athletic director; Ann Carr, executive senior associate athletic director; John Cohen, director of athletics; Randy Follett, president, Robert Holland Faculty Senate; Regina Hyatt, vice president for student affairs; Brandon Jolly, associate general counsel; David Shaw, provost and executive vice president, and MaKayla Waldner, student-athlete representative, served as members of the search committee.

“We were fortunate to have a very strong applicant pool, and I thank the committee members for their work and many contributions to the search process,” Keenum said.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.