LOWELL, Mass. -- Pouya Afshar, an associate professor in UMass Lowell's Department of Art & Design, has been named the new University Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).
 
As UMass Lowell's FAR, Afshar will serve as a liaison between the University and the athletics department, while also acting as a representative of the institution in America East and NCAA affairs. He will provide strategic input to both the University President and Director of Athletics in an effort to enhance academic integrity, ensure institutional control of the athletics program, and promote student-athlete well-being. Afshar will also continue his full-time professorship, teaching courses in visual arts and animation.  

"It is my pleasure to be a part of such a dedicated team," commented Afshar. "I hope we can provide a welcoming, supportive, and collegiate atmosphere for our student athletes to achieve their goals both in the sport they are involved in, as well as their academic field of study. We need smart, socially conscious athletes in today's world more than ever."
 
In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate classes at Lowell, Afshar has exhibited his work as an animator and visual artist throughout Los Angeles and United States at renowned locations such as Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center, Bovard Auditorium at University of Southern California, Royce Hall at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Santa Monica Art Studios, 18th Street Art Center, Art Miami/Context and Shulamit Gallery.
 
Notably, Afshar is known for his work as the creator, character designer and producer of the animated series 'Rostam in Wonderland', which took home the 2013 Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival, celebrating Iranian heritage.
 
He is also the co-creator of '1PA2PA' comics, an entity in which artists collaborate with other professionals to create socially concerned art projects that engage the society and challenges their socio-political concerns. And is the creator of 'Tehran', a graphic novel that aims to create a platform for dialogue about gender, sexual identity, human rights, and youth well-being in Iran.
 
An alumnus from the California Institute of Arts Character Animation department, Afshar is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles Graduate Department of Film and Television focusing in Animation and Digital Media.