Iowa State University Athletics
Small Named Senior Associate AD For Student Services
05.07.2018 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Dr. Charles Small, who spent the last four years in the University of Arkansas Athletics Department – including 2017 as Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services and 2016 as Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services – has been named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services at Iowa State. Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard made the announcement today.
"I am excited to join Iowa State University. Under Jamie Pollard's leadership, the athletics department has developed a culture related to excelling academically, while winning championships athletically," said Small. "I accept the challenge of assisting with the continuation of these achievements, while empowering Cyclone student-athletes to reach new heights. I am grateful to have an opportunity to partner with our coaches, university administrators and faculty to make a concerted effort to cultivate Cyclone student-athletes."
Small will oversee the Student-Athlete Development, Compliance and Strength & Conditioning units and also serve as a member of the department's Senior Staff and its Title IX coordinator.
"Charles is the perfect fit for our senior leadership team," Pollard said. "His experience in athletics and student affairs, combined with his experience as a Division I student-athlete, will be invaluable to our student-athletes, coaches, staff and campus leadership."
Pollard noted Small's addition to the senior leadership team was a critical hire because the position is the main liaison with Iowa State's Office of Student Affairs and is also one of the key links between the administration and student-athletes.
"We involved several individuals from the university community in the interview process," Pollard said. "We wanted their input and support for this important hire."
A native of Detroit, Mich., Small began his tenure with the Razorbacks in 2014 as Director of Student-Athlete Development. He served as a member of the Office of Student-Athlete Success (OSAS) leadership team and oversaw day-to-day operations of the student-athlete development program.
In 2016 and 2017, Small received promotions to Assistant and then Associate Athletics Director of Academic Services at Arkansas. He continued to provide oversight to the Razorback academic services unit, coordinating tutoring, assisting with class scheduling, study skills, time management and monitoring academic eligibility and progress toward degree requirements.
Small also served as advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and collaborated with the Division of Student Affairs as an athletics representative. He helped student-athletes adjust to campus life and acclimate them with the student body.
Prior to his work at Arkansas, Small was an Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment for a year at the University of New Orleans (2013) and assisted at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, in various academic roles from 2006-13.
His duties at Pittsburgh included: graduate assistant for student life and compliance (2006-07); Assistant Director of Life Skills (2007-10); and academic counselor for football and women's track & field (2010-13).
He is currently a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute (2014)and the NCAA Leadership Institute (2012 and 2013).
Small earned all three of his degrees from Pittsburgh: a Bachelor of Arts in social work (2006), Master of Social Work (2007) and a Doctor of Education (2013).
As an undergraduate, Small was a three-year letterwinner on the Pittsburgh basketball team (2003-06). The Panthers appeared in four NCAA Tournaments and won two Big East Championships in his four seasons on the squad.
"As a former student-athlete and a seasoned administrator, Charles is perfectly positioned to be a mentor to our student-athletes and a strategic leader for our student-services areas," Pollard said.
Small and his wife, Celeste, have a son, Charles Dominic.
He will start his duties on June 4.
