Appointed to the position of Faculty Athletic Representative in September of 2021, Dr. Scott White is an associate professor of chemistry and director of the SAU STEM Center for K-12 Education. He started his career at SAU in 2000.
The FAR provides oversight and advice regarding the administration of the intercollegiate athletics program. The FAR also serves as a liaison between the student-athletes and the faculty at-large. The FAR also handles any issues related to the relationship between academics and athletics, including student-athletes, staff and faculty. The FAR also helps facilitate student-athlete participation in NCAA research studies.
White received his B.S. and Secondary Education Certification from Harding University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He was active in band programs from 5th grade through his undergraduate career. He met his wife of 29 years, Jennifer, in the band program at Harding. The couple have one child, Alyson (23).
White has taught thousands of students in Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and freshman level chemistry courses and labs. The first half of his 20+ years at SAU included teaching chemistry on the third floor of Overstreet Hall while the second half in the SAU Science Center. He is a past recipient of the Calvin Wetzig Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching, and Spirit of SAU Award. He previously served as Chair for the Department of Chemistry and Physics and helped facilitate the growth of the separate departments of Biochemistry & Chemistry and Engineering & Physics. His peers and colleagues nominated and awarded him as Honor Professor for SAU in 2020. He has served as Acting-Dean for the College of Science and Engineering in addition to other temporary administrative appointments.
He has served on numerous academic and university committees including two terms each as Secretary, Vice President and President of the SAU Faculty Senate. He previously served as a board member of the Mulerider Club and enjoys helping serve as a scoreboard/clock operator and announcer for Mulerider Athletics and Magnolia Panther Athletics.
White has directed the annual Southwest Regional Science Fair at SAU for many years as Director of the STEM Center for K-12 Education. He is a strong advocate for outreach to local, especially rural, schools in the SAU's service area. He has assisted and conducted hundreds of hours of professional development workshops for K-12 teachers in collaboration with many specialists, colleagues and friends. He has presented many papers and presentations at state, regional and national conferences.
White's interest in science education was strongly influenced by his Father, who taught high school Biology for over four-decades in a small rural Illinois school district. His mother was a strong advocate for learning how to properly use reference materials and utilize correct spelling and grammar. Despite her best efforts, White was much better at the former than the later. His mother was his Den Leader and his father was his Scout Master as he attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
White completed two terms as an appointed member of the City of Magnolia Planning Commission and is a past-president of the board of directors for Camp Kurios church camp. He is an Elder at the Jackson Street church of Christ and is a faculty sponsor for the church of Christ campus ministry.
