Oct. 20, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Michael Kash, an FBI Special Agent in the Birmingham Division, spoke to a large group of Samford University's student-athletes Wednesday evening in Brock Forum on the Samford campus.

The special guest speaker was arranged by Samford's assistant athletics director for academic services, Chris Scott.

"Chris approached me with the idea for this," Kash said. "He has been asking me to do this for about two years now. Last year, I was out of the country and couldn't make it."

Kash talked to Samford's student-athletes about criminal activity, legal and illegal gambling, internet gambling and banned substances, as well as the consequences of those activities. He also told them about sources of assistance that are available to help them.

"What I want is for these students to think about their actions," Kash said. "And for them to understand the consequences of those actions."

Kash is a 1991 graduate of Samford with a business degree with a double major in management and finance. While at Samford, he played on the Bulldog baseball team in 1990 and 1991.

Kash's service with the FBI began in 1997, and he has been assigned to jobs in Virginia and Seattle, Wash. In 2003, he was transferred to his hometown of Birmingham to work in the local FBI office.

During his career, Kash has investigated a wide variety of FBI programs such as violent crime, which includes bank robberies, fugitives and major theft organizations; white collar crime, which includes corporate fraud and public corruption, and domestic terrorism.

Currently, Kash is assigned to a joint terrorism task force that investigates international terrorism. Kash is a tactical team leader and has been deployed throughout the world on various assignments