Iowa State recently announced the name of the first woman to serve as Iowa State’s Faculty Athletic Representative. Barb Licklider, an associate professor of educational administration at Iowa State, was named to the position at the end of December.

Licklider was named the university’s Faculty Athletic Representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) by ISU President Martin Jischke. She will begin serving her three-year appointment on July 1.

Licklider is an associate professor in professional studies and education at ISU. She said her primary role has been to prepare educators to be school principals. She is also the new director of education student services in the College of Education.

Her duties as representative will include representing the faculty members of Iowa State at meetings of the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA, acting as an adviser to Jischke on various athletic matters and helping maintain the academic integrity of the athletic program and each student-athlete.

Licklider will also certify the eligibility of student-athletes and investigate reports of rules violations.

“Professor Licklider brings to this position a record of outstanding academic work as a faculty member, plus experience as a student-athlete and as a coach of student-athletes,” Jischke said in a press release.

Licklider, a member of the ISU faculty since 1990, earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Iowa State.

“She is also very much involved in our efforts to improve the learning environment at Iowa State, and it’s this combination that made her the best choice for the position,” Jischke said.

Part of the reason Licklider said she wanted to serve in this position was because it was an opportunity for her to work with athletics again, an area in which she has had a great interest all of her life.

“I really have a deep respect for students and I want to look out for student interests,” she said. “I intend to be an advocate for women’s sports and for student athletes.”

One of Licklider’s goals for her new position is to maintain the academic integrity of Iowa State’s athletic program. She said there are several aspects of her new position that appeal to her, including providing as many opportunities as she can to the students.

The position is not one of decision making, Licklider said. Instead it involves working as part of a team to decide how best to represent the university. She also said part of her job will be to provide the faculty perspective when athletic decisions are made.

Licklider is a native Iowa who grew up on a farm in Walnut. She was previously a junior high school principal at Council Bluffs, a junior-senior high school principal at Anita, and a junior and senior high teacher at Fort Dodge. While she was teaching at Fort Dodge, Licklider also coached volleyball, basketball and track.

“Overall, I think it’s a very exciting time for athletics at Iowa State,” she said. “I think we can be leaders in recruiting outstanding athletes and also outstanding students.”

Licklider said, “Athletics are definitely a part of the Iowa State community and I really welcome being a part of that.”