COVER PHOTO: Annie Kloppenberg, Professor of Theater and Dance, with her Field Hockey team in the fall of 2020. 

Waterville, Maine - The weather is getting nicer up here in Waterville, Maine.  As our outdoor sports see weather in the 50's and 60's, the sunshine has melted away all reminders of a winter on Mayflower Hill.  Colby's campus is closed to those not in the testing program, resulting in most spectators found at weekend contests being classmates and peers of those competing.  Most… but not all.   You will also find professors in attendance supporting their students. 

One attribute that is often praised when talking about Colby is the welcoming and supportive community that the College fosters for its students and faculty to share experiences inside the classroom and out. The symbiotic relationship took a step further in 2004 when the Presidential Task Force made a recommendation to the Board of Directors to establish a program that enhanced the teaching faculty's connection to their students and, more specifically, to its student-athletes.  For the '04-'05 academic year, every varsity program was paired with a member of the teaching faculty, and the Faculty Liaison Program was born.

"The program started as a way to help bridge any perceived gap between a student's academic life and athletic life," said Marcella Zalot, the Harold Alfond Director of Athletics at the time.  "When it worked well, the program was a very visible and important way to show students how the academic and athletic worlds work together and complement each other."

"Our coaches work extremely hard to support every member of their teams in every aspect of life," said Danny Noyes '02, Associate Athletic Director for Communications.  "Most of our athletes come to Colby because they can get the best of both worlds, academics and athletics.  They want the challenge to be pushed in both arenas.  Our coaches are prepared to support their students in every way, and what we see with our Faculty Liaison Program is that our teaching faculty are prepared to do the same.  The partnership is so healthy and engaging."

Photo Right: Rob Lester, Professor of Economics, wearing his Colby Track & Field shirt during an interview for the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence. 

At a minimum, the program asks liaisons to meet with their teams at the beginning of each academic year to discuss academic approach, time management, and to create space for student questions in terms of academic hurdles they might encounter. Students see their coaches and professors as partners right from the beginning, and also identify that their two worlds at Colby are intertwined in a major way.  "We are all working towards the same goal: success for our students," reflects Tracey Cote, head coach of Nordic Skiing.   

Tarja Raag, Associate Professor of Psychology, is also the liaison for the Women's Lacrosse Team.  "I love our Women's Lacrosse Team," said Raag. "And I love supporting students who are trying to improve their academics, listen to critical feedback and create community. Karen Henning [Women's Lacrosse Head Coach] is one of my favorite people... So kind, hard-working, gentle and sincere." Tarja stays closely involved with the team through one-on-one meetings, advisory sessions and lunch events, and her commitment is cherished by the players.

"Tarja has been extremely helpful throughout my time at Colby," reflects Robyn Pirie '21, a senior captain on the Women's Lacrosse team. "She's advised me on how to navigate the relationship between my academics and athletics and has had a very positive impact on my experience in the classroom as well. Her guidance, readiness to help and genuine care for our team is unrivalled."

Julie Millard, The Dr. Gerald and Myra Dorros Professor of Chemistry, has served as the faculty liaison for Men's and Women's Cross Country for years.  She often travels with the team to their meets, including to the NCAA Division III Championships in 2019, and she also takes opportunities to speak with recruits over the phone if there are questions in the academic realm. As a former NESCAC cross-country runner herself, Millard has a long-running passion for the sport. The Faculty Liaison Program is a way for her to stay connected to her passion of athletics through the College community.

Millard is pictured (far left) with her Men's and Women's Cross Country teams at a training session in the fall of 2019 in Acadia National Park. Ron Peck, Professor of Biology, is second row, on the left. 

Some professors "jump in with both feet," like Bruce Maxwell, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department.  He has been the liaison for the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams throughout his time at Colby, and even takes a lane at practices to get a little training in himself.  "For me, being the liaison means getting to know the students, supporting them at meets, providing a small amount of additional academic guidance, and being a role model (in my case both in and out of the pool). I was swimming with about 15 of [the students] earlier today at an optional practice. It's a great way to keep myself challenged and stay in shape. Sometimes it's hard to stay motivated working out on your own but doing a hard set with the team helps you keep going."
 
The team appreciates Professor Maxwell equally so. Head coach Tom Burton reflects, "Bruce's impact on our team is expansive and unquantifiable. Personally, he has become one of my best friends at Colby. And, overall, we are a better team as athletes, students, coaches and community members due to his total engagement with the program." Burton considers Professor Maxwell a member of his coaching staff, as he regularly provides Burton with advice, insight and ideas to progress his team forward.
 
Noah Schimanski, a senior on the Men's Swimming and Diving team says, "Bruce is one of the loudest voices on the pool deck during meets." Maxwell is the team's "biggest fan and supporter," and there isn't any doubt that he dove head-first into his role.

To this date, every varsity team at Colby has at least one faculty liaison, however, there is hope to expand this out to more faculty as time goes on.

Overall, the acceptance and appreciation for this program acknowledges the significance of supporting a culture of merit and success in all components of a student's life on Mayflower Hill. By fostering these connections, faculty, coaches and student-athletes are able to make more meaningful connections with one another, further strengthening the students' experience as well as the community as a whole.