Dr. Brian Roberts To Receive Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Brian Roberts will receive the 2018 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award. Roberts is the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) at Principia College and will be recognized for his years serving in that role and promoting academic integrity and integrating athletics and academics while enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Roberts has worked for 21 years as a staff member at Principia College, serving as FAR for the last 16 years. This spring will be Roberts' final year in that role. During his time as FAR Roberts has represented not only Principia College but also the SLIAC at the national level. Roberts has served on numerous committees including the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee and participated in the NCAA Division III FAR Fellows Institute.
"For the selfless service that Dr. Roberts has given to Principia College Athletics, we are deeply grateful," said Principia College Athletics Director Pete Paciorek. "While he handing the FAR baton off, I know that Dr. Roberts will continue to be a wonderful presence and support to our students and our Athletics Department."
Outside of his role as FAR Roberts is a Professor of Political Science at Principia College and as the Chair of the Angie W. Cox School of Government. Last year he received the Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence. In addition, he has co-authored numerous papers and made various presentations during his teaching career.
Dr. Roberts will be officially recognized at the 2018 SLIAC Awards Banquet on May 15, 2018 at Tapawingo Golf Course.
About the Award - The Lee McKinney SLIAC Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to the individual that has served or competed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, dedication, service, and perseverance displayed by longtime Fontbonne University director of athletics, Lee McKinney.
Dr. McKinney served as director of athletics at Fontbonne for 23 years, seeing the athletics program at the institution grow from three teams and 19 student-athletes when he arrived in 1988 to 19 teams and over 350 student-athletes at the time of his retirement. Dr. McKinney was instrumental in the formation of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as he joined representatives from Blackburn College, Maryville University, Parks College, Principia College and Webster University in chartering the Conference in September 1989.
During his years of service to the Conference, Dr. McKinney chaired the SLIAC Administrative Council and represented the Conference nationally, serving on the NCAA Management Council, Financial Aid Committee, and Nominating Committee.
Dr. McKinney, who was a two-time cancer survivor, passed away on April 4, 2011. He had dedicated countless hours of service to local community organizations and raising money for various charities, mainly the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer.
