A Letter from the President The start of a new school year is always an exciting time on a college campus, but this year has ushered in even more than the usual amount of excitement at Lyon. In July, we received the final report from the Higher Learning Commission, renewing our accreditation through 2022. This positive outcome was due to extensive work by Lyon’s faculty and staff, as they completed the self-study and met with the site visiting team.
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On July 1, our new chairman of the Board of Trustees started his five-year tour of duty. Chairman Perry Wilson stepped into the role as retiring Chairman Raymond LaCroix Jr. finished his extended service to the College. While Chairman LaCroix will be greatly missed for his wit, his service, and his wisdom, we now anticipate the dawning of the Wilson era and what it will mean for Lyon.
The Second Annual
Black Tie Blue Jeans Ball
Perhaps the major development of the year is the opening of the new Edwards Commons. At its April meeting, the Board of Trustees named the new campus center after the Edwards family, which had provided the facility that burned down in 2010. The new Eds is a wonderful addition to Lyon, and we truly appreciate the many generous donors who have made it possible to open the new building debt-free.
A Benefit for Student Scholarships at Lyon College The Cow Palace at Chimney Rock Concord, Arkansas
Dr. Dickson Flake has been a tireless overseer of the building project as well as the renovations to the bathrooms in Blandford Hall. We are very grateful for his service. Mrs. Lynn Weatherman and the First Ladies’ Auxiliary have also contributed to campus improvements by funding and directing the refurbishment of Bevens Music Room and the renovation of the two adjacent bathrooms. This organization has done wonders in its first year, and I look forward to the Auxiliary’s positive impact on the campus in the coming years.
Silent and Live Auctions Gourmet Dinner Dance
The College’s athletic programs also will experience a major change this year, as we move from the TransSouth Athletic Conference to the American Midwest Conference. This transfer should ensure that all our teams will have a chance for post-season play. We hope that some will make it to the NAIA national playoffs as our women’s basketball team did this past year. Coach Tracy Stewart-Lange and her players have set a high standard for all our athletic teams. Lyon welcomes a strong group of new faculty this year. Dean Virginia Wray, assisted by several faculty members, worked hard throughout the summer to ensure that these new instructors live up to the high quality of instruction offered by our returning professors.
02.22.13
For Ticket information: (870) 307-7211 or kay.hermansenpool@lyon.edu
As we begin our new academic year, we feel a sense of promise in the various elements newly introduced to our community. Now that we have completed our self-study and achieved our ten-year reaccreditation, the time is here to develop Lyon’s next strategic plan. We will embark upon a year of program assessment culminating in defining our direction for the coming decade.
PIPER STAFF
As always, we continue to strive to make Lyon College the best possible institution of higher learning it can be. We owe that to our students, our faculty and staff, and to the larger community we serve.
Gina Garrett, ’93 Executive Director of Advancement
Nell Tebbetts, ’07 Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication
Sincerely,
Bob Qualls Director of Communications, Editor
Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91 Director of Alumni and Parent Services
Chandra Huston Assistant Director of Communications
Kenton Adler Instructional Technology and Prospect Research Associate
Michele Howard Advancement Data Manager
Kay Hermansen-Pool Administrative Coordinator for Institutional Advancement