New EOU Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Peter Diffenderfer
LA GRANDE, Ore. - Eastern Oregon University President Bob Davies named Dr. Peter Diffenderfer as the new Faculty Athletics Representative Monday.
Dr. Diffenderfer has been a faculty member with EOU for four years as a business professor at the Chemeketa branch site.
“I am very excited to work with Dr. Diffenderfer,” Eastern Oregon Athletic Director Rob Cashell said. “His desire to advocate for student athletes and their success academically and athletically is very genuine.
“His background in various leadership roles among faculty and working with intercollegiate athletics brings instant credibility to his role as the F.A.R.”
Dr. Diffenderfer along with his wife and three children have moved to the Grande Ronde Valley and he will be a faculty member in the college of business.
“It’s fantastic to join the Mountaineer staff,” Diffenderfer said. “I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of what’s going on here. I’m anxious to help build the programs, work in the community and not only see athletics on the rise but greater support throughout the community.
“The people here are very friendly. It’s just a kind of place where people get to know each other very quickly. We’ve learned that coming from the Willamette Valley.”
Dr. Diffenderfer, an avid sports fan, was the athletics faculty liaison at Northwest Christian College prior to their joining the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference. He competed collegiately at Cortland College in New York on the Red Dragons’ football and basketball teams.