Lisa Merritt Hometown: McAlester, Okla. Last College: Oklahoma State University Position: Assistant Athletics Dir. for Academics Email: lisa@latech.edu Graduated: 1991

Lisa Merritt is now in her third year as a part of the athletic department staff as its director and overseer of all academic issues across all 16 sports. Merritt comes to athletics after serving for 11 years in thome Speech Communication department with her husband where she has taught speech classes at Tech as well as serve as an academic advisor for students majoring in speech communications.

As the academic advisor for athletics, Merritt oversees the student-athletes' academic progress and success while advising them regarding class schedules and degree plans, monitoring eligibility status and providing general academic guidance. Merritt also runs the athletic academic center, provides "Life Skills" seminars for student-athletes, meets with prospective recruits, and serves as faculty advisor for SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). SAAC puts on a yearly Halloween carnival and participates in community services throughout the year.

Merritt oversees and reviews the advising process to ensure compliance with both university and NCAA policies and serves as a liaison between faculty and coaches, as well as speaks at "New Faculty Orientation" each fall and during the year to the University Senate. She also meets recruits and their families, which is one of the things she enjoys most about her job, to describe the college experience and how it will affect the student-athlete.

Merritt earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and master's in speech communication consultancy both from Oklahoma State University. She and her husband taught conversational English in Kyoto, Japan, for one year before coming to Louisiana Tech.

Outside of work, Merritt is a huge health and fitness buff who loves cycling (road and mountain), running and swimming. In 2002, Merritt and her husband completed the Florida Ironman Triathlon. She can often be found mountain biking at Lincoln Parish Park. She has ridden mountain bike trails in places like Sedona, Flagstaff, Mt. Zion (Utah), Rainer National Park (WA), Southern California as well as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama.

Merritt and her husband Kevin reside in Ruston and have a five-year old daughter named Maisie.