NEW BOARD CHAIR

Alumna becomes first female Board Chair

The college welcomed a new era this summer when Kathy Reese McCollum ’81, M’17 began her term as the first female chair of the Board of Trustees.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board and look forward to working with fellow trustees who are dedicated to LaGrange College,” she said.

She first became involved with the Board as an ex officio member after serving as president of the Alumni Association from 1995-1998.

In 2007, McCollum officially joined the Board as a new trustee. After her two consecutive terms ended in 2015, she was invited to return in 2016. McCollum has served on the Enrollment and Student Affairs Committees, now known as the Enrollment and Student Engagement Committee.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Christian education from LaGrange College, a master’s degree in business administration from Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in philanthropy and development from LaGrange College.

McCollum, whose three siblings, Dr. Ken Reese ’82, Karla Powers ’95, and Kerri Shoemaker ’95, are also LC alumni, said education was very important to her parents, who didn’t have the opportunity to go to college.

“My parents encouraged all of us to do as well as we could in school,” she said. “I think it’s pretty remarkable that all four of their children went to LC because they made that opportunity possible for us.”