UW appoints director for student-athlete academics
Kayla Webley
2005-08-03
The Daily
Student athletes have a new leader to help propel them to success — in the classroom.
Athletic Director Todd Turner named Kim Durand, head of UCLA’s athletic academic services, to the position of associate athletic director for student development at the UW last week.
Once Durand assumes the position on Aug. 16, she will be in charge of the organization, administration and supervision of the student-athlete academic-support program and student-athlete life-skills program.
The life-skills program consists of a series of programs that bring student athletes “beyond the classroom” by providing opportunities for personal development, which includes community service, leadership, career development and programs such as nutrition, said Jeff Compher, executive associate director for the athletic department.
Durand joins the UW administration after six years in a similar position at UCLA, where she served as the assistant athletic director for academic services. In the position, Durand was responsible for overseeing the academic department, which provides academic and student services for 650 student athletes in 22 sports, according to gohuskies.com.
“She is by far one of the best candidates in the country for this job,” said Compher. “She has been a national leader in student-athletes academic programs.”
Durand will coordinate the student-athlete program by working with other campus academic services, including career services, CLUE and the advising office, said Compher.
A longtime Pac-10 native, Durand earned her bachelor’s and graduate degrees from the University of Oregon. She also served as a student assistant and recruiting assistant in U of O’s athletic department.
“She knows the conference well,” said Compher. “She has been in the Pac-10 a long time and loves the Northwest.”
Durand has also served as the University of Kansas’ assistant and associate director of degree and career counseling, and has coordinated academic support for seven of the university’s teams. When working with the Kansas football program, the team dramatically raised its graduation rates and improved the overall team grade point average, according to gohuskies.com.
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