University of New England Athletics

Leighton (Cumberland, Maine) has been the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at UNE since the fall of 1996, supporting and promoting the student-athlete experience. He is widely-respected in FARA ranks, which governs NCAA FAR activity on national, conference, and institutional levels. Leighton was on the Association's Executive Committee from 2003 to 2016, which included serving as the President in 2007 and ten years in the role of Secretary-Treasurer. He was chosen as the recipient of FARA's prestigious David Knight Award in 2017. Additionally, he served on the NCAA Division III Management Council, and is the UNE Chapter President of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. In 2016, Leighton was appointed as the University's Associate Provost for Student Success, shortly before concluding 24 years as an associate professor of Physical Therapy.