RELEASED: September 6, 2001

DANVILLE, KY — Shawn Lyons has joined Centre College in the position of associate vice president for development and alumni affairs. Lyons, a 1981 graduate of Centre, returns to his alma mater after a10-year absence. Lyons was serving as Centre's director of development when he left to become a vice president at Washington College in Maryland in 1991. Most recently, the veteran fundraiser has been serving as president of the Ephraim McDowell Foundation.

Three other members of the development staff have assumed new duties.

Jason Scott Embry, a five-year veteran of the Centre development staff, will become director of campaign giving effective Sept. 1. Previously, he had served the College as its associate director of development for annual giving. In his new role, Embry will manage operations of Centre's upcoming capital campaign.

Jessica Coleman, a 1997 graduate of the College and three-year veteran of its development staff, will become Centre's director of annual giving on Sept. 1. Coleman had previously served as associate director of annual giving, leading Centre's efforts to involve its young alumni more actively in the affairs of the Alumni Association and the life of the College, including its annual-giving program. She also has served as adviser to the Senior Class Gift Committee.

Mary McKee, a 1980 graduate of Centre and 10-year veteran of its administrative staff, will continue in her role as the College's director of development. However, she will be spending more of her time away from the campus as she assumes primary responsibility for Centre's efforts to cultivate the interest and solicit the support of Centre

Associates, alumni and friends who give the College $1,000 or more annually, and other major benefactors.

"As we seek funding to implement Centre's strategic plan, it's essential for the College to have a strong team in its Development Office. We have such a team," said Centre President John Roush. "I'm genuinely excited about having Shawn Lyons join us, and am excited about the new roles that Mary McKee, Jason Scott Embry, and Jessica Coleman will be playing for the College.

"And, of course, there are others, whose positions haven't changed, who also play vital roles in our development program. Richard Trollinger, our vice president for college relations, has assembled one of the strongest development teams in the nation. With the strong base of support that we have among the College's alumni and friends, the future of fund raising at Centre looks very bright indeed."

According to Trollinger, "Preparing for a major campaign has been the catalyst for assembling an able and experienced staff. In organizing for success, it's important to match the strengths of talented people with critical tasks, so that challenges become opportunities."

Coleman, a 1993 graduate of McLean County High School, is the daughter of Ron and Brenda Coleman of Calhoun.

- end -