RICHARDSON, Texas - Dr. Denise Paquette Boots takes over the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) role for The University of Texas at Dallas. Appointed by the president in August 2026, she represents UTD and its faculty in matters involving student-athlete academic success, well-being, institutional governance and NCAA compliance.
 
Boots is a professor in the Public Policy and Political Economy program in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, where she is beginning her 21st year at UT Dallas. She is also a senior research fellow in the Institute for Urban Policy Research, an affiliated faculty member of the Center for Children and Families and an honors affiliate in the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College. She previously served for nearly six years as associate dean and senior associate dean of undergraduate education in EPPS and as head of the university's Criminology and Criminal Justice program.

A nationally recognized educator and scholar, Boots received the Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award, one of Texas' most prestigious honors for university teaching. Her additional honors include the University of Texas System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award, the UT Dallas President's Teaching Excellence Award for Tenured Faculty and three EPPS Comet Teaching Awards. Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to student mentorship, academic excellence and creating meaningful educational opportunities inside and beyond the classroom.

"We are honored that Dr. Boots agreed to be our next FAR," said UTD Director of Athletics Angela Marin. "From our very first conversation, we were in alignment. It was clear that Denise shares our priorities of championing academic excellence, student-athlete well-being, and elevating the student-athlete experience. I look forward to Denise representing UT Dallas on the local, regional and national stage."
 
Boots is a past president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the founding president of the UT Dallas chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society. Her research and public-policy work examine domestic violence, child abuse, mental health, homicide, capital punishment, human trafficking and criminal justice program evaluation. She has authored or co-authored two books and more than 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, in addition to numerous chapters, reports and professional publications. She earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in criminology from the University of South Florida.

As FAR, Boots is committed to serving as a strong advocate for UT Dallas student-athletes and supporting their success in academics, athletics and life while advancing the university's values of integrity, academic excellence and student well-being.