CHESTER, Pa. - The Athletic Faculty Advisor Program is helping bridge the divide between academics and Athletics, with the goal of supporting students, improving communication, and strengthening connections across campus.

Nearly one-quarter of Widener students are varsity athletes.
 
When not in the classroom or lab, at internships or studying, they can often be found training, practicing, traveling to games, and of course, competing for the Pride. This dedication can lead to hectic schedules and sometimes competing responsibilities.
 
Student-athletes often turn to their coaches first for academic support and help with schedules. At the same time, university administrators found that some professors did not fully appreciate the time commitment involved with being a student-athlete.
 
Officials realized that both sides of the campus experience — and of course the students themselves — would benefit from teaming up.
 
The result — the Athletic Faculty Advisor Program, designed to address these issues by helping bridge the divide between academics and Athletics, with the goal of supporting students, improving communication, and strengthening connections across campus.
 
"We're breaking down the barrier. Academics and Athletics are coming from a different perspective, but we're all serving the same person," said Associate Athletic Director Larissa Gillespie, who is spearheading the initiative.
 
Entering its second season, the program pairs at least one faculty member with each varsity team. Professors attend practices and games, get to know the student-athletes, and serve as an academic mentor in a somewhat less formal manner by counseling students, answering questions, or directing them to resources.
 
The program is also designed to alleviate scheduling conflicts by working to arrange class and practice schedules to accommodate student-athletes and create more flexibility.
 
And faculty advisors partner with coaches to assist with recruiting, including meeting with prospective student-athletes and families when they visit campus.
 
When Donna McCloskey, associate dean for undergraduate programs in the School of Business Administration, first became the faculty advisor for women's basketball, she sat in the stands during games. McCloskey was quickly embraced by the team and now sits on the bench alongside the players and coaching staff, cheering on the blue and gold.
 
McCloskey is a longtime faculty member and the university's NCAA faculty representative. But even she didn't realize all that went in to being a student-athlete.
 
"I never fully understood how many students were here for Winter Break. Through this program, we're seeing students as a whole person. It's student-centric and it creates a stronger community," said McCloskey, who gifted her team socks and chocolate for the winter holidays.
 
Brynn Foley '24, a psychology major and member of women's soccer, said it's invaluable to have Itzick Vatnick, professor of biology, biochemistry, and environmental science, as the team faculty advisor.
 
"Having him as our academic liaison is definitely useful, even for business majors who need help because he's another person who knows the academics and he's very knowledgeable," said Foley.
 
A huge women's soccer fan and staunch Pride supporter, Vatnick is the academic point person for the Athletic Faculty Advisor Program. He also advocates for more of his colleagues to support Athletics.
 
"Seeing students in the classroom is just a small part of their experience at Widener. A large part of the experience occurs outside the classroom, and many are involved in Athletics," said Vatnick, who is known to bring orange slices to practices for the soccer team.
 
He adds: "Having the recognition of their faculty creates a real sense of well-being. These students are really, really working hard and representing us really well. They're carrying the name and face of Widener."
 
Coaches, professors, and students alike acknowledge the boost that student-athletes get from seeing faculty at their games.
 
"It's incredibly important. They get to see their university supports them, not just athletes supporting athletes," said women's soccer Coach Melissa Franks.
 
Vice Provost Mark Nicosia, faculty advisor for men's lacrosse, says the culture of support on campus for student-athletes starts at the top. President Stacey Robertson rarely misses a home match for any Pride team, and Provost Andy Workman has been hugely supportive of the faculty advisor program.
 
Lacrosse player Matt Buckley '24 has found Nicosia's involvement with his squad a major boost. The mechanical engineering major was able to chat with Nicosia about the 4+1 engineering pathway program.
 
"He explained to me how classes work at the graduate level and he's very approachable," said Buckley.
 
When men's lacrosse made the playoffs, and Buckley discovered that two of his final exams conflicted with the matches, he turned to Nicosia for help in working with his professors to make accommodations.
 
These types of conflicts can cause major stress for student-athletes, said men's lacrosse Coach Robb Chambers.
 
"Having Mark has helped tremendously. He can serve as a go-between to figure situations out. He's our number one fan. He stands in the substitution box at matches and is right there with a smile on," said Chambers, noting that Nicosia even shows up to review game film with the team.
 
Each faculty member will serve at least two years with their team before potentially rotating off. Advisors have found their way onto teams through various ways. Some were personally requested by the student-athletes, as was the case with Vatnick; his love of women's soccer was legendary, said Foley.
 
Others were recruited.
 
When not studying fish in streams, or those swimming in a tank in his lab, biology Professor Dave Coughlin can often be found swimming laps in Widener's pool. And that's where men's and women's swim Coach Mark Yankovich found and recruited him for the program.
 
A longtime supporter of Widener Athletics, Coughlin jumped right in. He regularly attends swim meets and practices (afternoon ones, not those pre-dawn ones).
 
"I want to bring other faculty out. Athletics is a lot of fun and it's a real part of the experience here," said Coughlin. "And it supports our concept of belonging. We're bridging the gap a bit more and there's a real outcome here."