The Johns Hopkins Department of Athletics debuted its Faculty-Coach initiative during the 2025-26 academic year. The program is designed to engage faculty members and create meaningful relationships and community between academic affairs and athletics by serving in a mentoring and supportive role of JHU's scholar-athletes.
 
Faculty Coaches will serve as honorary members of the coaching staff and act as an additional support person for scholar-athletes on the team.  They are available to answer academic questions and help direct scholar-athletes, particularly first year students, to the many resources available to all Johns Hopkins students.
 
The initial two-year commitment, which comes with an option to extend, provides the faculty member the opportunity to attend as many games and practices as their schedule allows, to watch games from the sideline/bench area, and to attend team-specific events, including end-of-year banquets and awards ceremonies.
 
Throughout the 2026-27 academic year, HopkinsSports.com will utilize a Q&A format to allow fans to learn more about a team's designated Faculty-Coach.  Today, we introduce Shweta Rao, the Faculty-Coach for the Blue Jay Volleyball.

---

Name: Shweta Rao
 
Faculty-Coach Team: Volleyball
 
Alma Mater: IIT Roorkee
 
Position/Title: Assistant Teaching Professor, Center for Leadership Education (CLE)
 
Year at Johns Hopkins: 2nd
 
Tell us a little about your own athletic background: Wish there were something I could share! I grew up reading books and making art. The fact that I had a body and that I could do any kind of sports somehow didn't occur to me. I do remember I enjoyed playing volleyball during my early high school days. The coach had asked me to come for tryouts for the school team. I never went, and so we will never know if I would have made the team.
 
What is your favorite sport: My father worships cricket, my son loves soccer, but I was a sports agnostic till quite late.
 
How did you become involved in the Johns Hopkins Athletics Faculty-Coach Program: First, it was my colleague MC who shared about this program and suggested I take up some role. Then Gagan Garg, my spouse, took on the role of the Faculty-Coach for Women's Soccer. I know for sure that both these people are deeply committed to their students, and I would gladly follow in their footsteps.
 
While the program is still in its infancy, tell us about your experience working with your team thus far:  I've met them only a few times, but the first thing you notice about the team is how warm they are. They are a close-knit community. It is endearing to see them look out for each other. I leave inspired every time I meet these amazing young athletes.
 
What has most surprised you, if anything, about working with and meeting the coaching staff and athletes on your team: Thanks to a ton of films I have watched, I had expected a varsity team to be ruthless and unforgiving in its pursuit of success. However, the coaches, Braswell and Churney, and the team have built an uplifting culture. The team is cohesive and this connection helps them win. It also enables them to overcome upsets. They cheer each other on not only when they score but also when they miss a point. I have seen them pat each other's backs through the worst moments of the match. Watching them play makes me wonder: what if we reconfigured how we respond to mistakes and failures as a society? What if we cheered on the effort as well as we do the outcome, inspiring the person to do better rather than feel small?
 
As the faculty-coach for the team, what is your goal or what do you hope to accomplish:
I want to be able to help the team and the coaches in any way they want me to. More than anything, I look forward to supporting the freshmen as they navigate academic challenges along with their athletic commitments.
 
Either since you assumed this role or before that time, what you most memorable Johns Hopkins Athletics experience:
During my first year at Hopkins, one of my classes had a few Women's Lacrosse players. I was invited to the professor appreciation match. It was the first time I watched a game at Hopkins. I was humbled to be around faculty colleagues (and so many from CLE, too!) whom I admire. Not to mention, the game was a real nailbiter! As a new faculty member, I remember feeling accepted in the community that day. Not surprisingly, I have been to many Women's Lacrosse games since then.
 
If you have had the opportunity to have scholar-athletes in your class, please describe your experience with them as students:
All my classes are interactive. I have observed that athletes mark their presence early on in the classes.  The athletes are the first ones to break the ice, and their intervention makes the class discussions feel safe. Another notable feature is that athletes are disciplined. If they miss a class for an away game, they manage stay on top of their work. The discipline and team spirit that they learn in sports transfer to academics. Even when they are injured, they have a chin-up attitude. One of my students had a head injury and missed a few classes; he returned to class as cheerful as ever and joked about "returning from the dead." It is indeed a privilege to know and teach Hopkins athletes.
 
What would you tell faculty members who are not involved about this program: After being involved in this program, you will learn more about the student-athletes than you ever would in class. You will see them in their natural habitat and end up being more impressed by how well they manage in classes too. Also, being in their corner and cheering them on at a few matches would be a happy change in your routine.  
 
Tell us something about yourself that not many people are aware of or that you think people would find interesting:
I have never played any sports, but I wear a few hats. I am a self-taught visual artist. I paint portraits rife with symbolism. I am a published poet and a graphic novelist. This year, I started performing improv, thus getting back to theatre. Also, I am an elaborate cook and enjoy hosting friends. I dream to learn to rap one day, and play guitar.