ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western State University has announced Dr. Ashley Elias as the next Faculty Athletics Representative.

"I am honored to serve in this capacity as the Faculty Athletics Representative at MoWest," said Dr. Elias. "I look forward to supporting our amazing student-athletes and working with the Department of Athletics. I hope to be a faculty voice contributing to the balance between academics and athletics for the benefit of our student-athletes."

"On behalf of Griffon Athletics, we are thankful and grateful for Dr. Elias," said MoWest Director of Athletics Andy Carter. "Her willingness to serve and her desire to impact the experience of our student-athletes makes this an easy transition."

Dr. Elias teaches courses in introductory biology, anatomy, physiology, developmental biology and ichthyology. She also supervises undergraduate students working on research projects and many of these students have presented their work at regional and national conferences. In addition, Dr. Elias actively promotes science education through community outreach.

The Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) is a role mandated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. At MoWest, the FAR provides counsel to the university president on athletics-related matters, collaborates with the associate athletic director for compliance to oversee student-athlete eligibility, and represents Missouri Western at NCAA and MIAA meetings—serving as a voting delegate in the president's absence.

Additionally, the FAR participates in search committees for senior athletics administrators and head coaches, among other key responsibilities.

Dr. Elias has been at MoWest since 2019. She spent three years as an NSF-funded post-doctoral research fellow at North Carolina State University. She earned her Ph.D. in biology from Purdue University in Indiana and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, with minors in anthropology and French from the University of Florida.