Dr. Jeff Roberts, a member of the Tennessee Tech University faculty since 1991 and chairman of the History Department since 2002, was appointed in May 2006, as the university's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) to the NCAA. Roberts replaced Dr. Thurston Banks, who retired after 25 years of service to Tech Athletics.
   
Roberts earned his B.A. in 1981 from Cornell University. He received his master's from The Ohio State University in 1984 and accepted his Doctor of Philosophy from Ohio State in 1990.
   
In 1995, he was appointed to the Sports Hall of Fame Committee, and he drafted new selection procedures that remain in use (with modifications) to this day. He has also served on the University Athletics Committee for more than 20 years.
   
Outside of athletics, Roberts has served on the Faculty Senate since 1993 – including terms as Secretary and President. He served on the Academic Council for over two decades before moving to the Administrative Council in 2015.

Roberts has also been a member of the Cookeville Rotary Club since 1993, serving as Club President (2002-2003), District Assistant Governor (2006-2009), District Rotaract Chair (2009-2012), and as a faculty member of the District Leadership Academy (2010-2016). He is currently the Club Foundation Chair.