Lander University is pleased to announce the appointment of Suzann Couts as the executive director of the Lander University Alumni Association.
"We are very excited about Suzann's arrival," said Mike Worley, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of The Lander Foundation. "Suzann has a track record of 13 years of leadership experience and building programs in similar-sized alumni associations."
Couts said she views her role as the "chief engagement officer" within the Lander University Alumni Association and University Advancement. She said that some of her goals "include increasing strategic engagement opportunities for our Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a renewed focus on regional alumni engagement efforts." She also envisions building a robust student engagement and philanthropy education program through the existing Student Alumni Association.
Previously, Couts served as the director for Alumni Relations at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, for more than seven years. At McMurry she led all alumni engagement initiatives, including the management of volunteer boards, the university alumni awards program, student philanthropy education and alumni/student mentoring.
Prior to her role at McMurry University, she was the assistant director for Alumni Relations at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, where her responsibilities included recruiting, training and supporting more than 20 regional chapter volunteers.
Couts has forged a reputation as a relationship builder during her 15 years in higher education, with a strong foundation in communication and a commitment to service. "Suzann has been a volunteer and been active in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)," said Worley, a recent appointee to the CASE District III cabinet. CASE is a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to educational advancement, focusing on areas such as alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and advancement services.
She feels a passion for building community and playing a role in helping make higher education possible for students of today, and of the future. She said she considers herself fortunate to be among those whose work "brings them great joy."
Before beginning her career in higher education, Couts earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in writing from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
She and her family - husband Josh, and sons Nathan (14), Matthew (13) and Nicholas (11) - enjoy the outdoors, travel, family game nights, sports, and time spent with their pets: a dog named Dixie, and their cats Shadow and Pepper.