Jess Kirby appointed UCCS Faculty Athletics Representative
UCCS has appointed Jess Kirby, associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences, as the university’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), announced today by UCCS Executive Director of Athletics Nathan Gibson.
“Jess’s passion for student success and her commitment to the holistic development of our student athletes make her an exceptional choice as our next Faculty Athletics Representative,” said Gibson. “She understands the balance required to compete at a high level while excelling academically, and she will be a powerful voice in ensuring our student-athletes are supported, challenged, and prepared for what it takes to be a Mountain Lion.”
As Faculty Athletics Representative, Kirby will serve as a liaison among UCCS Athletics, faculty, and university leadership, helping ensure the institution maintains its commitment to academic integrity, student-athlete well-being, and NCAA compliance.
“I am thrilled to step into this leadership role as the Faculty Athletics Representative and further support the excellence and well-being of our student-athletes at UCCS,” said Kirby. “We have some of the very best student-athletes here and it is a privilege to support their success and overall development.”
Kirby has served in multiple faculty roles at UCCS since 2010 and currently serves as an associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences. Her teaching, research and service activities focus on sport psychology, student-athlete wellness, resilience and mental health. A UCCS alumna who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university before completing her Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Colorado, Kirby has dedicated her career to helping athletes succeed both in competition and in life.
Kirby currently serves as director of the Center for the Critical Study of Sport and director of Mountain Lion Strong, UCCS’ comprehensive mental wellness and resilience program that supports approximately 400 student-athletes through education, mental health screenings, referrals, and mental performance training.
Kirby was a finalist for the 2025 NCAA Division II Faculty Mentor Award, and the Women of Inspiration: Women in Sport Award in 2024.
A prolific scholar and presenter, Kirby has shared her research and best practices at conferences and symposiums across the United States and internationally. Recent and upcoming presentations include:
The 18th FEPSAC European Congress on Sport and Exercise Psychology in Timisoara, Romania, where she will present in July A Mental Health and Sport Performance Continuum Tool: Behavioral Indicators and Practical Strategies for Athlete Longevity (2026).
The Inaugural College Athlete Mental Health Conference in Houston, Texas, where she presented The Non-Clinical Model: Supporting Athletes Across the Mental Health Continuum through Wellness Education & Peer Support (2026).
The GAMES Conference in London, United Kingdom, where she presented research on peer-led mental wellness and resilience education for collegiate student-athletes and participated in a symposium on suicide prevention and mental health intervention in sport (2025).
The Athens Institute International Conference on Sport & Exercise Science in Athens, Greece, where she presented research on empowering collegiate student-athletes through peer-led wellness education (2024).
The NCAA National Convention, where she highlighted UCCS’ nationally recognized Mountain Lion Strong program (2024).
Kirby, who is replacing James Kovacs, will begin her role as UCCS’s FAR this summer.