KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2023 National Awards Day recipients earlier today, where Corban University's own Dr. Bryce Bernard was named the 2023 Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) of the Year. Dr. Bernard was selected out of a large group of qualified candidates from across the NAIA who work to promote the success of their school's student-athletes while assisting them in staying eligible as they navigate the strenuous world of both academics and athletics.
"Bryce has been a consistent servant leader and displayed unwavering commitment to Corban Athletics throughout his years of servant leadership," Warriors' Director of Athletics Bill Pilgeram stated when asked to speak on Dr. Bernard's honor. "He has impacted countless students' lives in his roles as both a professor and FAR, always available to mentor anyone in need. This much deserved national recognition speaks volumes to his value at not only our institution, but to the entirety of the student-athletes participating in the NAIA."
This is not the first time that Dr. Bernard has received this worthy distinction, having been named the award winner in 2015 for his incredible work that helped advance not only Corban University and the remaining conference members, but also assisting in work at various colleges across the NAIA in need of both academic and athletic support that only he could provide.
Dr. Bernard has served as the Warriors' FAR for the last thirty-five and has been an employee of Corban since 1987 when he began as business department faculty. His tenure as the department's FAR began the following year and has held the position ever since. Since his initial arrival in '97, he has served in a variety of positions, including Business Department Chair, Associate Academic Dean, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Vice President for Academics, Dean on Information Services, and is currently the Dean of the School of Business.
Holding four collegiate degrees and serving as a licensed public accountant for the state of Oregon since 1987, Dr. Bernard's academic prowess has directly correlated with his ability to lead numerous committees, departments, and organizations since he became a staple of Corban University, the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), and the NAIA. Married to his wife Julie since 1981, all three of their children have attended and graduated from Corban University under his watchful eye. In what little free time Dr. Bernard does have, he enjoys golfing, listening to music, watching baseball, and leading mission trips.
Despite already maintaining a lengthy list of responsibilities that would intimidate even the most successful academics, Dr. Bernard continues to take on new challenges and tasks that he believes will help better the university and conference, which would then transfer to the national stage. Within the last year, he has agreed to serve as Chair of the NAIA Penalties and Violations Task Force, alongside engaging in meaningful discussions regarding NAIA Junior Varsity programs and how to best provide every single student-athlete with an opportunity to find success both on and off the playing surface.
"In addition to his work as Corban's FAR, Dr. Bernard has worked tirelessly at the conference and national levels to increase the effectiveness of collegiate athletics and the role of the Faculty Athletic Representative," Corban Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Tom Cornman shared in a letter to the NAIA selection committee. "He is a fixture at national conferences, leading, lending his expertise, and heading up key meetings. He is a 'make it happen' team member at all levels."
From both a regional and national standpoint, Dr. Bernard serves as the FAR for the entire Cascade Collegiate Conference, member of the CCC Eligibility Committee, and has been a vital member of the NAIA National Eligibility Committee since 2012, which he has now served as Chair of since 2021. The resources and insight he provides has been utilized at both the conference and national concentrations on multiple occasions regarding eligibility, athletics constitution and bylaws, and the long-term planning for the future success of the CCC and NAIA.
"On behalf of the conference, we want to congratulate Dr. Bryce Bernard on being named the Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year," stated CCC commissioner Robert Cashell. "To know Bryce is to know how deep his commitment is to the student-athletes at Corban University, the CCC, and the entire NAIA, and we could not be any prouder to call him a treasured colleague."
Now a two-time recipient of the award, Dr. Bernard has etched his name in the history books within the NAIA as one of the most successful and tenured FARs to grace the national organization. Corban University's student-athletes, staff, faculty, and local community are all better because of the hard work and dedication that Dr. Bernard has put forth over the past thirty-six years of faithful service.
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