Last fall, Colin Abrams arrived on campus from Maryland as a frosh and a new member of the Cardinal track and field team, balancing academics and training while adjusting to a new environment.

“Being a student-athlete can be very demanding physically and mentally, and a lot of us are coming from places far away from our parents, siblings, and the people that we typically look for that support,” Abrams said.

He soon connected with Francis A. Pearman, a member of the Faculty Athletics Program and resident fellow at Abrams’ dorm.

“I look at him as a mentor – someone I can talk to about anything, whether it’s school, personal, emotional, athletic,” Abrams said. “It’s important to have someone you can trust and be vulnerable with.”

The Faculty Athletics Fellows program, part of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER), matches Stanford faculty with athletic programs and teams to provide student-athletes with support, mentorship, and academic guidance. Around 60 faculty members from a wide array of disciplines participate in the program, which began in 2017.

Pearman understands the perspectives of both student-athletes and faculty. The assistant professor of education played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers and in the NFL, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans.

“A student-athlete’s role is one of tremendous privilege, but it also presents a host of challenges, and not all faculty are aware of some of those nuances,” Pearman said. “I feel that I can advocate for them and be that support.”

‘The full Stanford experience’

The Faculty Athletics Fellows program is designed to ensure that student-athletes have ample access to faculty mentorship, academic support, and research opportunities, said Meredith Basil, program co-chair and associate dean of academic advising.

“We want our student-athletes to have the full Stanford experience, as they work to balance multiple competing priorities and their unique time demands,” Basil said. “They are an integral part of our academic community, and we have incredible faculty who help us address complex challenges in support of our students.”

Stanford has 36 varsity sports, and student-athletes make up approximately 12 percent of the undergraduate population. DAPER has worked to grow the Faculty Athletics Fellows program with the goal that each team has at least two faculty members associated with it.

The program’s faculty meet quarterly to discuss issues that impact student-athletes, such as travel and enrollment. Fellows also receive invitations to all-sport activities, have free access to selected competitions, and have the opportunity to share information and raise related considerations in faculty meetings across campus.

Faculty join the program for a wide variety of reasons, said Kristen M. Azevedo, assistant athletics director and assistant dean of student-athlete success and well-being. Some are interested in sports, some are former student-athletes themselves, and some just want to support students outside the classroom.

Fellows determine what time commitment works best with their schedule, and they are assigned to a team or sport of their choice for the season. Many attend games and practices, and even travel with the team.

Chris Ayres, the Matt Gentry Head Wrestling Coach, said having a faculty member assigned to the team sends a powerful message to student-athletes.

“Faculty fellows show they care about students beyond their performance in the classroom and that goes a long way,” Ayres said. “Our sport has a lot of first-generation college students, and having a faculty member around lets them see that professors are very approachable and down to earth.”

The fellows program also teaches the students the importance of building strong relationships beyond their peers, Ayres added. “At the end of the day, athletics, especially at Stanford, is an extension of the educational experience,” he said.

‘A bridge’

As a fellow, Jody Maxmin joined the Cardinal women’s basketball team in the locker room before the game against Notre Dame and cheered them on during games last winter.

“There’s absolutely nothing like being there,” said Maxmin, associate professor of art and art history and of classics. “It’s important to show up for our students, and you can learn so much about your own craft by watching others in different environments. It was fascinating.”

Maxmin, who has taught at Stanford for 46 years, said the program grows connections between faculty, student-athletes, and coaches that enrich the experiences of all involved.

“The best coaches here are models for faculty on how to challenge and correct while encouraging, and how to critique without wounding or discouraging,” Maxmin said. “And our student-athletes are models of how to stay fresh, ambitious, fit, fearless; they show us how to teach, how to take on new challenges that stretch us.”

Krista Birnie, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, is a fellow working with the squash and women’s basketball teams. She was also one of the best 3-point shooters in Stanford women’s basketball history.

“Student-athletes are incredibly dedicated and hardworking,” Birnie said. “There’s a level of maturity and resilience that is pretty unique to the group.”

For Birnie, the program is an opportunity to get to know student-athletes and stay involved in college athletics. She and her husband have set a goal of taking their family to a game in every Stanford sport.

“It can be challenging for student-athletes to get the ‘normal’ student experience because you’re traveling and doing your sport so much,” Birnie said. “The Faculty Athletics Fellows are a bridge to help support the student-athletes, to advocate on behalf of their experience, and also for students to understand what faculty are hoping for, too.”