Spartanburg, SC – Converse College Director of Athletics, Jenn Bell, has announced that Dr.
Jennifer Hawk has been named Faculty Athletic Representative. Dr. Hawk currently teaches Chemistry at Converse and is a faculty mentor for the Valkyries' Acrobatics and Tumbling team. She will now be a liaison between the faculty and Converse Student-Athletes. As the Faculty Athletic Representative, Dr. Hawk will help facilitate conversations between faculty and coaches regarding scheduling issues or issues within a team. In her role, she will also promote the "Valkyrie Way" for all student-athletes to insure academic integrity and assist with the faculty mentor program.
"We are excited to have Dr. Hawk as our Faculty Athletic Representative", said Director of Athletics, Jenn Bell. "Her enthusiasm and passion for students and learning will give our student-athletes the needed to tools to balance the demands of academics and athletics. Her background as an academic, combined with her responsibilities as the Faculty Mentor for our Acrobatics and Tumbling team, allows her to bring a unique perspective to the role, which will positively impact our student-athletes. I also look forward to her helping us guide our student-athletes in the area of academic integrity and helping our student-athletes follow The Valkyrie Way".
Dr. Hawk began her teaching career at Converse College in 2016 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and currently teaches General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Instrumental Analysis. Prior to joining Converse, she was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill NY. In graduate school at Duke University, she was awarded the Pelham Wilder Teaching Award on two different occasions for her outstanding teaching. "I'm looking forward to working with our student athletes and fostering communication between our faculty and athletics staff", said Hawk.
Converse is home to the only NCAA Division II athletic teams in Spartanburg and is a member of Conference Carolinas, whose membership is made up of private colleges and universities across the southeastern United States. Converse recently announced that in fall 2020 it will add a co-ed undergraduate residential program alongside its women's college, and launch its inaugural men's athletics teams in fall 2021. The men's teams currently planned at Converse for the 2021-2022 academic year include basketball, cross country, equestrian (co-ed), esports (co-ed), soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. These men's teams will be in addition to the 13 NCAA Division II and IHSA women's teams currently a part of Converse's athletic team roster.
About Converse College
Converse was founded in 1889 by citizens of Spartanburg, SC who aimed to create an educational experience that enables women "to see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly." Effective July 1, 2021 it will acknowledge its university status under the name Converse University, and in fall 2020 it will welcome its first undergraduate co-educational incoming class. Converse is a creator of opportunity for all academically-qualified students through a personalized education that is combined with the professional and technical skills graduates need to be successful in their careers. Converse pushes beyond traditional boundaries to make a quality educational experience available to every qualified student who seeks it – both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Converse College's mission is to help students develop their unique voice, a sense of value, and a vision for the future.
