#163: Penn State University Professor and Faculty Athletics Representative Dennis Scanlon: Leading for holistic student-athlete success

Dennis Scanlon is a Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Administration and a Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at Penn State University. In addition to his renowned career as a researcher and teacher, he’s served in a critical leadership capacity at conference and campus levels as the Big Ten leads the way in a new era of college athletics.

1.        Dennis’ experience as a student-athlete at Villanova. I looked at the professors and thought, ‘this could be a cool job!’”

2.        What is a Faculty Athletics Representative? How did Dennis become one?

3.        Dennis’ regular FAR routines at Penn State. Active engagement in most dimensions of athletics endeavors, including academic eligibility, health and wellbeing, and admissions.

4.        How Dennis’ research and teaching agenda provides interesting perspectives into college athletics in the modern era. Legal issues, policy issues, economics issues.  

5.        Some areas of uncertainty currently in college sports: Title IX, Labor law, collective bargaining.

6.        The importance of higher education leadership. Keeping the primary mission of the university centered.

7.        Challenges presented by frequent turnover in leadership positions on campuses. Institutional history. The “tragedy of the commons.”

8.        How his experiences as an athlete, coach, and parent of Division 1 athletes have contributed to his perspectives on college sports. “What we’re doing at the Division 1 level trickles down to these other levels.”