July 30, 2010

 WVU at Parkersburg Foundation names new executive director.

 Contact:  Susan Kimberly Jones, WVU at Parkersburg Foundation executive director/ WVU Parkersburg director of development, 304-424-8341.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An Evans resident with strong experience in non-profit and educational management and program coordination is the new executive director of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation.

Susan Kimberly Jones will begin her new duties August 16.  In addition to serving as the Foundation’s executive director, she will assume responsibilities as the college’s director of development.

“Our Board is dedicated to supporting Kim in her new role.  She knows the college well and is exceptionally qualified with professional and volunteer fundraising experience.  We look forward to the success we know she will have as executive director,” Dr. Robert Harris, president of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation’s Board of Directors, noted in making the announcement.

Mrs. Jones has more than 10 years of experience in coordinating business, academic and community programs, and in strategizing, networking and relationship building.

"In these challenging times when state allocations are being cut and we are trying to serve students, we need the help of the Foundation to address the needs of the college.  We look forward to Kim's work with us," WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage said.

Most recently, Mrs. Jones has served as grants writer and program coordinator for WVU Parkersburg.

“I look forward to reaching out to the region, including the Jackson County area where the college operates its Jackson County Center, to help WVU Parkersburg grow and increase access to its educational opportunities,” Mrs. Jones said.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in interpersonal communication from Ohio University. 

From 1995-2002, she was a sales/consulting representative and project coordinator with Sarcom, an information technology consulting and computing firm in Columbus, OH. She served as program coordinator for Catholic Social Services in Columbus from 2003-2005.  She was responsible for managing a 22-unit shelter for families in crisis, writing grants to sustain program funding, and developing partnerships with community organizations.  While with CSS, she obtained more than $600,000 in grants in 2004-2005 and additional funding totaling more than $600,000.

Since 2007, she has facilitated and or coordinated the  receipt of $4.2 million in grant funds for WVU Parkersburg. 

She volunteers as a program coordinator with the Jackson County Literacy Council where she instructs adult leaders and pursues grants to expand program funding.  She serves on the board of directors of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA) of the Fifth Judicial Circuit and is vice president of West Virginia’s Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) board of directors.  She is a technical assistant with Literacy West Virginia.

She and her husband Gordon reside in Evans and have a son.

The WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, Inc. is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation organized to promote and support WVU Parkersburg.  The Foundation awards more than 110 scholarships annually to students who demonstrate strong academic performance.  The Foundation also provides funds for other institutional support.

cd7/30/10

For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203 - Office)