|
News from |
|
Michael
D. Chason Director
of Public Relations ABAC
30, 2802 Moore Hwy |
||
|
|
|
|
For IMMEDIATE
Release October 13, 2009
Barber
Selected As External Affairs Vice President at ABAC
TIFTON--Keith
Barber has been named Vice President of External Affairs and Advancement at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, according to an announcement by ABAC
President David Bridges.
“When
I was offered the opportunity to become a member of the ABAC Family, I chose to
join a team in which I saw potential, dedication, commitment and aspiration,”
Barber said. “With ABAC’s solid reputation and knowledge of Dr. Bridges’
work ethic, high standards and ‘institution-first’ approach to leadership, I
knew it was a great match for me.”
Barber,
a Southern Pines, N.C., native, received his Bachelor of Science degree in
Criminal Justice and his Master of Arts in Leadership and Higher Education from
Appalachian State University. Prior to joining the ABAC administration in 2008,
he was the Senior Director of Development at Clemson University.
Bridges
said Barber will provide leadership for the College’s advancement and alumni
programs and will assume administrative responsibility for the Arts Connection,
Contracts and Grants, Public Service and Business Outreach and other external
operations.
“External
Affairs is a member of the larger ABAC team,” Barber said. “It is
not a stand-alone component, but rather it is integrated into the whole
College. The team within External Affairs is comprised of teammates whose
responsibility is to connect our prospective students, our current students
(‘alumni-in-residence’), our former students (alumni) and our friends in ways
which advance the College.
“My
philosophy is that in higher education we should be engaged in the ‘Circle of
Life’ theory. That is, from the time we make a first impression upon a
person (beginning with prospective students), it should be our goal to develop
that impression into a life-long, engaging relationship that is good for both
the individual and the institution. External Affairs is fortunate to be
involved with many relationships as a window of ABAC so we must daily remember
that it truly is about the institution.”
Barber
is ready to engage all the ABAC constituencies in the External Affairs effort
to enhance the future of the College.
“We’re
too great an institution with too many high quality people and programs and too
great a history and future to settle for average,” Barber said. “Let’s
work together by using our collective strengths to make ABAC all it should
be.
“ABAC’s
vast array of external constituencies are vital to our future. Bringing
together the programs and people dedicated to serving them is a big step in
advancing the College. External Affairs has the privilege of providing
that two-way portal the institution needs to engage the entire ABAC
Family. We intend to do just that.”
###