BATESVILLE, Arkansas — Lyon College President Dr. Melissa Taverner has announced the promotion of Gina Garrett, of Batesville, to vice president of advancement.
A 1993 graduate of Lyon College, Garrett has served the college since 1995 in a wide range of advancement roles. She brings 30 years of experience spanning prospect development, grant writing, annual giving, alumni relations, and major and planned giving. Prior to joining Lyon, Garrett worked as a journalist for a regional Arkansas newspaper.
“Gina’s deep institutional knowledge, commitment to Lyon College and exceptional leadership in advancement make her the ideal choice for this role,” Dr. Taverner said. “She understands our mission, our momentum and the importance of building strong relationships to support the College’s continued growth and impact.”
“I am honored to serve my alma mater at the next level,” Garrett said. “Lyon College has a bold vision to educate engaged citizens at its School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, to produce dentists committed to improving oral health in Arkansas at its School of Dental Medicine, and to develop compassionate veterinarians who celebrate the human-animal bond at its School of Veterinary Medicine. It is a pleasure to be part of building the relationships and partnerships essential to advancing that mission and preserving the values of integrity and service central to the Lyon College experience.”
Garrett is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and holds a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She co-founded the Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement and was the first recipient of the Margaret Fuhry Scholarship, a national honor recognizing emerging leaders in advancement research.
She is a Christian and serves on the board of the Batesville Downtown Foundation.
Garrett’s husband Lane and two of their three daughters, Allison and Cassidy, also are graduates of Lyon College. The Garretts share their home with one energetic pound pup and several spoiled cats.
