LEWISTON, Maine – Sandra H. Goff, associate professor of economics and co-chair of the Economics Department, has been named Bates College's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

In the role, Goff will serve as a liaison among the faculty, the Department of Athletics, and Bates student-athletes, supporting the student-athlete experience and strengthening the connection between academics and athletics within the broader educational mission of the College.

"Professor Goff is an outstanding fit for this important role," said Director of Athletics Stacey Bunting. "She brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach, a strong understanding of the academic and athletic demands our student-athletes navigate, and a genuine appreciation for the role athletics plays within a Bates education. Sandra will be an important advocate and resource for our students, coaches, and faculty, and I look forward to working closely with her."

Goff's own background in Division III athletics gives her firsthand perspective on the opportunities and demands facing today's student-athletes.

"As a former Division III athlete, I understand both the rewards of competing at the collegiate level and the challenges student-athletes face as they strive for excellence in competition and in the classroom," Goff said. "I'm excited for the opportunity to focus more intentionally on enhancing the student-athlete experience at Bates."

Goff is an experimental and behavioral economist whose teaching at Bates has included Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, Statistical Methods, and the Study and Practice of Human Cooperation.

She also leads the Goff Lab for Experimental Economics (GLEE), a teaching and research lab at Bates. Goff's research uses experimental methods and agent-based computational models to explore prosocial economic behavior, including charitable giving and cooperation, environmental philanthropy, ethical consumption, and attitudes toward markets and government intervention.