Dr. Jennifer Thayer named APSU's newest Faculty Athletics Representative

By: Cody Bush July 12, 2023

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Dr. Jennifer Thayer, professor of accounting, has been named to serve as Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) new faculty athletics representative (FAR). APSU President Dr. Michael Licari announced her selection on Wednesday, July 12.

The FAR is critical in ensuring that the student-athlete experience reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and overall student success. They also represent the institution and its faculty in relationships with the NCAA and the ASUN Conference.

Internally, the representative serves as the liaison for student-athlete NCAA eligibility and academic success, as well as NCAA rules compliance —coordinating between the Office of the President, the faculty community and the Department of Athletics. The representative also is a resource for student-athletes on all academic and student welfare issues.

Thayer, who graduated from APSU in 2000 and joined the University’s faculty in 2015, is Austin Peay’s seventh Faculty Athletics Representative. She assumed the role following Dr. Cindy Taylor, who had served as FAR since 2015.

“I have been impressed with Dr. Thayer’s deep concern for our students and her passion for Austin Peay athletics – including serving as an honorary coach for the spring football game,” Licari said. “I know she will serve as the FAR enthusiastically and thoughtfully.”

Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison said he is also excited to work with Thayer in her new role.

“[Dr. Thayer] is a well-respected professor in the College of Business and has demonstrated a passion for caring about the life-long success of our student-athletes,” he said. “I know she will represent Austin Peay well on the conference and national level. It’s always a great day to be a Gov, and today it’s also great to welcome Dr. Thayer.”

Thayer said she is eager to ensure a positive student-athlete experience at APSU and to represent the University at the conference and national level.

“I am thrilled and honored to serve as the Faculty Athletics Representative for Austin Peay,” Thayer said. “Student-athletes bring a dynamic energy to our campus, and I have had the pleasure to teach many of them in the College of Business. I am excited to expand my engagement to all student-athletes, collaborate with an incredible athletics staff, and represent APSU in the ASUN and NCAA.”

An accomplished member of the Austin Peay faculty, Thayer received the AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award and the Carmen C. Reagan Outstanding Leader Award from the College of Business in 2020. She also earned Austin Peay’s Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching, recognizing outstanding teaching for tenure-track faculty members, in August 2020. In addition, she has obtained recognition from Austin Peay’s Division of Student Affairs (2019), the Military Student Center (2020) and the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce (2021).

Thayer has led Austin Peay’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) site since 2018. She previously served as co-chair of Austin Peay’s academic affairs strategic planning steering committee and currently chairs the faculty awards committee. Thayer also is a member of the City of Clarksville Audit Committee.