DeFreese, J D

UNC Service

I have been a faculty member at UNC-CH since 2016. Currently, I am the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS). Previously, I have served as the EXSS Director of Undergraduate Research and the Director of the Admissions Committee for our Human Movement Science Doctoral Program. From 2019-2022 I served as a fixed-term faculty representative on the Faculty Welfare Committee and was this committee’s representative to the 2021 University Caregiving Work Group. In 2019, I was a participant on the Tar Heel Bus Tour, a program connecting our UNC-CH faculty with constituents across the state.

Candidate Statement

My background positions well to serve in this Faculty Athletics Committee role, and I humbly submit my name for consideration. My research examines the links of athlete psychological health with both physical and social functioning. Much of this work has focused on understanding the transition experiences (from college to post-college endeavors) of student-athletes. Further, as an instructor who works with many student-athletes, I am familiar with how time demands impact their classroom experiences and interactions with faculty instructors. Now is a transformational time for collegiate athletics. My goals for this position would be to listen, learn, and help this committee and UNC-CH continue to invest in services (academic, mental health, transition from college) to maximize the lifespan health and well-being of our student-athletes.