M. Courtney Hughes has been named NIU’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative.
M. Courtney Hughes, associate professor of public health in Northern Illinois University’s College of Health and Human Services, has been named NIU’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, President Lisa Freeman and Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced Thursday.
As the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), Hughes plays a strategic role in ensuring the academic integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program, serving as a liaison between the institution and athletics and monitoring the student-athlete experience. She represents the university in Mid-American Conference and NCAA meetings. The FAR is also responsible for ensuring, either directly or indirectly, that student-athletes meet all NCAA, conference, and NIU requirements for eligibility to practice, receive financial aid and compete.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. M. Courtney Hughes to Huskie Athletics as NIU’s new Faculty Athletics Representative,” Frazier said. “In this critical time of change across intercollegiate athletics, I look forward to Courtney’s perspective as a newcomer in this role – and as a former student-athlete – as we work together to move NIU Athletics forward.”
“I am delighted that Dr. Hughes has agreed to serve as FAR,” Freeman said. “She is well-suited for this important role because of her experience as a student-athlete and expertise in public health. Dr. Hughes also participated in the 2021 Emerging Faculty Leaders Program, an intensive professional development experience that emphasized development of leadership and mentorship skills. I am confident that Courtney Hughes will be a strong role model for student-athletes and an important advocate for balancing academics and athletics in ways that allow Huskies to thrive in the classroom and in competition.”
Hughes joined the NIU faculty in 2018 as an instructor in public health and was named an associate professor in 2019. She has expertise in access to care, health behavior change, and health disparities. Her recent work examines cancer prevention and control, improving palliative care, and supporting caregivers.
She holds a Ph.D. in health services from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and business economics & computer applications from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the women’s tennis team and earned the Knute Rockne Scholar Athlete Award.
“It is a true honor to be appointed as the FAR,” Hughes said. “This is an exciting time in college athletics, and I look forward to serving NIU student-athletes, administrators and faculty as we navigate change while continuing to pursue Huskie excellence on and off the field.”
