Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics wants to thank Dr. Paul Sale, Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Psychological Science, for an impactful six-year term as the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) as he steps down to spend more time on teaching and research.
“I want to personally thank Dr. Sale for his efforts on behalf of our student-athletes and the entire department over the last six years,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “Dr. Sale developed countless meaningful relationships with coaches and student-athletes. He rarely missed an athletics event and will no doubt continue to be one of the biggest fans of our student-athletes. He provided a calm presence especially during a trying year as we navigated the pandemic. We are thankful for his service during a very transformational time in our department’s history and we look forward to continuing to see him in the stands on game day.”
Sale was originally designated by UTRGV President Guy Bailey to serve as a liaison between the university and the athletics department, and also as a representative of the university in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and NCAA affairs on Sept. 17, 2015.
During his time as FAR, Sale served as Chair of the Athletics Council and a member of the mental health task force while advising the student-athlete advisory committee. He monitored the student-athlete experience and was involved in their personal and academic welfare. He also assisted in preparing any requests for waivers or appeals regarding NCAA or WAC legislation.
“I have come to appreciate the dedication and hard work of our student athletes,” Sale said. “Balancing heavy travel schedules and class assignments is difficult. Chasse, [Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator] Molly [Castner], the coaches, and the faculty have formed a great team to promote the UTRGV brand and to boost student athletes’ academic performance.
“I look forward to being courtside for the upcoming seasons!”
Sale has been working at the university since 2006, when he joined legacy institution The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He stepped down in 2010 to return to the classroom as a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology. He became chair of the department in 2012.
During his tenure as provost, Sale is credited with initiating the formation of a faculty orientation program that helped educators acclimate to South Texas and the university retain more professors; supporting improvements in academic advisement, which led to more students continuing their education at the university and improving relationships between administration and the Faculty Senate and College Councils.
Before coming to UTPA, Sale served as dean and professor in the College of Education and Human Development at Radford from 2000-2006. He spent eight years at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, serving in a variety of roles including interim dean (1999-2000) and associate dean (1997-99) in the School of Education.
Sale received both his bachelor’s in special education-mental retardation and his master’s in special education-emotional disturbance from Virginia Commonwealth in 1979 and 1982, respectively. He received his doctorate in education of exceptional children in 1986 from Georgia.
UTRGV will name a new Faculty Athletics Representative in the near future.
