Linfield University professor Natalie Welch takes on the role of Faculty Athletics Representative, succeeding Lee Bakner, who stepped away from the role after 17 years of service.
 
"Lee Bakner did an outstanding job as FAR for many years, but I'm really excited to have Natalie in that role going forward," said Linfield Director of Athletics Garry Killgore.
 
Welch is the first woman to hold the position of FAR at Linfield. She brings a diverse mix of experience in sports and in education to her new position.
 
"The biggest thing I'm excited about is Natalie's academic background is sports and sports management," said Killgore. "She understands the depth and breadth of athletics within and academic context really well.
 
Welch earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in Sport Management before obtaining two master's degrees in Business Administration and Sport Business at the University of Central Florida.
 
She was a graduate assistant at TIDES (The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport) and helped conduct research investigating diversity in sport leadership. After earning her master's degrees, Welch interned as an event manager at the Disney/ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. From there, she headed west to work with Nike's Native American initiative, Nike N7, and the prominent Portland advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy.
 
After five years in the industry she decided to go back to school and reconnect with her passion for advancing opportunities for students.
 
Welch returned to the University of Tennessee to complete a doctorate degree in 2019 before joining the Linfield faculty late that year. She teaches Sport Management courses, advises undergraduates, coordinates student internships, and plans for the future of Sport Management at Linfield.
 
Having grown up on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, Welch is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She has done extensive research on Native American athletes and Cherokee stickball, and hosts a podcast that features Native American athletes.
 
She is also striving to build relationships within the local Native community that promote Native athletes and Native issues on campus and in the greater community.
 
"Natalie is very enthusiastic about making sure that she is part of a cohesive team of administrators that will maximize the success of our student-athletes," said Killgore.
 
"The interesting thing is that for the first time in school history, it feels as though Linfield has a very cohesive group of administrators – from the President, to the Athletic Director, the Senior Woman Administrator, Senior Associate AD for Facilities who is also our Diversity and Inclusion Designee, and a Faculty Athletics Representative who is so engaged. It's pretty cool."